Author's note: Sorry for the small delay, I went to go post and it wouldn't let me! The stupid website has been having some issues. . Anyway, thanks for all the wonderful reviews. You guys are so nice. I know that I was taking a risk with them laying together, but it felt right. Plus they're going to be traveling a lot, so I just haaad to slip it in there. ;D Shout out to my brother (I know you're reading this) for giving me some ideas to think about! Onward, to victory! Or, er...this chapter!

When Kili woke, half of the bed was warm. He blindly reached for the she-elf, but soon discovered that she was no longer at his side. His sigh was wistful, wondering if last night had been a dream as he sat up. The fire in the hearth had gone out. Kili fished around for his boots, pulling them on. He didn't bother with his traveling armor just yet, as he didn't expect to be leaving for the next couple of days.

He was weary to leave the room at all, not without Tauriel. He wasn't blind - he knew of the elves' opinion of him. It could be quite dangerous to wander about on his own, but he was too restless to stay contained in his room. Luckily, Bilbo was just leaving his room as well.

"Ah, Kili! I was just off to search for a bite to eat. The elves don't seemed to have learned about second breakfast, or the first one at that. I'll be happy when I'm back home, able to eat my five meals a day in peace." He patted his stomach, but the dwarf could hear the hesitation in his voice.

"And I'm sure you will, Mr. Boggins," he said, accent butchering the hobbit's last name slightly as Kili clapped him on the shoulder and they walked down the spiral staircase towards the main hall. Several elves were rushing to and fro, very uncharacteristic of the race, as they were usually much more composed. Kili could see that the door was opening, and the elf king Thranduil's white elk was pawing through the door, hooves clapping against the wood in an elegant manner.

Kili scowled, head ducked low as if to avoid being seen. He longed to know where Tauriel was. He didn't feel comfortable around so many elves without her at his side. At least then he could ignore their staring.

Bilbo wasn't oblivious to the dwarf's discomfort, and his face was solemn as he tugged him away from the main hall. "Come, Kili. I know where we can find some food, and we can deal with Thranduil later." He allowed the hobbit to pull him towards the cellars, a perfect place to hide out and eat at the same time, and he glimpsed Tauriel greeting her king with a small frown on her face.

"The Captain told us to eat down here. Your King has arrived. You may go and see him if you wish." Bilbo told the two elves that were taking inventory. They eyed the both of them suspiciously. "Off you go. If you don't believe me, go ask Tauriel herself." Bilbo's voice turned condescending, as if he were scolding children, and Kili stared at the young hobbit in awe. When had Bilbo grown such a backbone? He was not the same hobbit Kili had met when he introduced himself that one night in the Shire.

The elves sulked off, muttering about doing just what the hobbit asked, and Bilbo didn't even wait for them to disappear before he started muttering to himself and pulling various pieces of food from shelves. Kili himself grabbed a loaf of bread, frowning at the absence of meat there was in this cellar, and made over to the table with just the bread. Ori wasn't the only one that didn't like green food.

The thought of the fallen young dwarf left pangs of grief ricocheting from Kili's heart. He hadn't had much time to think of his fallen comrades since he had been told by the other dwarves, not until now, when he able to sit down and think about it. He tore a piece of the bread off with his teeth, chewing it slowly as he let the tears flow freely from his eyes. There was no shaming in mourning loss, and Kili knew that.

"They are at peace you know." Bilbo's voice flurried out of nowhere, and Kili brought his head up, staring at the young hobbit that the Durin brother's had always been so fond of. The only one fonder of the Bilbo, perhaps, would be Bofur. "They knew the battle would be won, and that caused them to be at peace with themselves when they were slain. Mourn them, but don't regret their deaths. They would have wanted you to remember fond memories, not those that are filled with taint and darkness. In the end, their memories were justified when those orcs and goblins were slain." The hobbit's smile was faint as he sat down next to Kili and dug into his food.

Kili didn't do anything, just wiped his mouth of the bread crumbs and continued to eat in companionable silence. "You ever lost anyone?" Kili asked. It wasn't an accusing question, just a curious one. Kili looked over at Bilbo, who shook his head.

"No, no. Hobbits are very safe creatures. We don't do anything remotely dangerous," he paused to smile at how hypocritical he sounded, "but I just know the right things to say to make you feel better. Tell me I'm wrong." Kili couldn't, and he grinned at the hobbit gratefully as he finished off his bread, not quite full.

"Think they'll notice if we steal some of their wine?" Kili's grin turned devious, and Bilbo shook his head.

"How often do they drink it, do you suppose?" Kili shrugged his shoulder in response to Bilbo, and then hopped off the stool, heading towards a keg full of wine. It took him a moment to hunt down two glasses, but once he did, he poured the wine and handed one to Bilbo.

"To future peace," he toasted, tipping the glass back as he drank deeply. Bilbo hesitated slightly, his forehead lined before he tipped his glass back as well. Kili much preferred ale to wine, as it went down easier, but he couldn't decline a good drink.

"So you and Tauriel." Kili cough and spluttered, trying not to drown on his own drink as he set his glass down on the table and stared at Bilbo. Bilbo's gaze was set on the table as he trailed patterns there with his fingertip.

"What?" Kili's smile curled upwards on the right side at the thought of Tauriel, and his heart panged slightly. He realized then how he missed the elf's company, which then made him long for his brother's company as well. Despite the fact they had left on poor terms, there wasn't a moment that passed that he didn't miss his brother. The smile immediately left his face.

Bilbo looked up and saw the dwarf's expression. "Oh no. I've upset you."

But Kili shook his head, his smile this time not quite reaching his eyes. "You've just reminded me of my brother is all. I miss him. But what about Tauriel?" He did not wish for the hobbit's pity, so he steered away from that topic, noting how soft Bilbo's eyes got at the mention of Fili.

"You two are pretty fond of each other. Hobbits are observant creatures. Makes for good gossip at the dinner table." Bilbo's eyes were knowing, so Kili found it unwise to try and lie. Besides, the hobbit deserved to know. Especially since they would all be traveling.

"I may be courting the she-elf. I'm telling you, tell someone of childhood stories, they save your life a couple of times, and then bam!" Kili smacked his hand against the other, causing Bilbo to jump and nearly fall off his chair. "It's foolproof."

"I'll have to try it sometime."

"It certainly worked with me," Tauriel's voice sounded behind Kili, tone perfectly amused, and Kili's sheepish grin appeared on his face as he turned around. Tauriel wasn't smiling, however, and she glanced at the both of them for a moment before saying, "We must leave, now. Our stay is not welcome any longer." There was a sadness in her eyes that Kili had not yet seen, and it made him want to do anything in his power never to see it again.

AN: Lalala if any of you have pandora, I suggest looking up the "Lord of the Rings" station. It's got a beautiful variety of film scores, and it really helps me focus when I wanna write. Oh, and I've decided the other two (or was it three?) that commented the "Sneaking!" thing is gonna win too. So there's that. Kay, the brother and I are gonna go and play War in the North now. Tata! xox