The elf and the dwarf strategically moved from tree to tree, from rock to rock, edging closer and closer to their destination. All the while, Kili's mind raced. What if he was found out? Why was he even doing this, staying with elves? In secret? This was going to end horribly, he could feel it in his bones. After a while, they got to the side of the mountain and crouched behind a boulder. Kili tugged on Tauriel's sleeve. "Tauriel... If this is how difficult it's going to be getting in, what's it going to be like inside?" He mouthed worriedly.
"When I come to see you, I often come back late and have to hide from guards. I discovered a different route when inside so if we can get through the entrance, it should be a breeze..." She mouthed back, reassuringly. Kili swallowed and then nodded, watching her eyes and trusting her.
Fili crept along the dark tunnel, stumbling slightly every now and then in the blackness. He stopped when he saw a fork in his path, just as his mother had told him. There were three tunnels and he looked at each in turn. They were all dimly lit like the passage he had just come down. Which one had she said to use again? Screwing up his striking blue eyes, Fili racked his brains. The middle one...? No, no the right one... Or was it the left one? He let out a groan of frustration. He had no time for this! He needed to get to his brother. Fili kicked at the stone wall in frustration, his thick dwarvish boots protecting his toes. He ran a dirty hand through his sooty hair and sighed, desperately trying to remember. He would just have to go for it and try one. Looking at them all in turn, he decided that he should go down the middle one. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Don't worry Kee, I'm coming." Without another moments hesitation, Fili started to go down the jagged tunnel.
Tauriel peeked around the boulder - the elf guards were still there. She huffed and cursed. Kili watched her and arched a dark eyebrow. "I've never heard an elf curse before." Looking back at him, Tauriel flashed him a quick smile. She frowned suddenly, deep in thought. Kili frowned back. "W-what is it...?" He asked cautiously. Tauriel traced the rough lines on the boulder and picked off tiny flecks of soft moss with her delicate fingers.
"I was just thinking... I don't mean this in a mean way, I promise, it's just... You're not a dwarf and you're not an elf. So, what can I call you?" She turned and looked at him, her eyes shining. Kili shifted uneasily and met her gaze.
"Kili. Just call me Kili..." He looked down at the ground and pulled at some grass that was growing in a small crevice in the rocks. Tauriel grinned as a sudden thought came to her mind.
"Dwelf. We could call you a Dwelf." She teased lightly, nudging him in the arm. He lifted his head and glared at her darkly, although he knew she didn't mean it. He relaxed his gaze and let out a sigh.
"If you really want to..." He whispered.
Fili ran through the passage. It twisted left and right as it dodged around the elaborate mountain halls. Eventually, he could see a golden light at the end of the tunnel. He slowed down and stepped quietly towards it. When at the end, he peered round the wall and frowned in surprise. The prince had no idea what this place could be. He took a step back inside the tunnel and rested his head on the wall, his brows knitted together in thought. What had his mother said? He thought for a few moments before hitting himself in the forehead with his palm and cursing himself in frustration. The right one! Amad told me to go down the bloody right one! Fili's eyes flashed angrily at his own stupidity. But where had she said the middle would lead? Fili had no idea where he could be and he could have sworn his mother had said the other two passages would lead to the healing halls and the library. Edging his way along the wall, Fili peered round again. This passage was completely in the open with no door or wall to hide it! Anyone could use it! The room he looked into was empty of Dwarrow so he stepped out of the dark and into the orange light that oil lamps cast into the room. Brow furrowed, he looked around. The room was dusty and had obviously not been touched since the dwarves had reclaimed Erebor. It looked like a store room: There were tables smothered with shining cobwebs, chairs encrusted with thick layers of dust and debris, barrels with flies zipping about above them... He wrinkled his nose up as the smell of what was obviously in the barrels swirled into the blonde's nostrils. It must be some kind of food, that has been sitting in this room for years! Fili gagged at the horrendous stench and covered his nose with his hand. He hurried to the door. His mother may have told him not to come this way, but this wasn't the library OR the healing halls. Pulling on the door handle, he swore. It was locked. He didn't have time to go back through the passage to go down the correct tunnel! He looked around frantically for a key or at least something to bust the door open with.
Tauriel kept her eyes fixed on the guards as they prowled protectively outside the mountain. She had been monitoring their patrol patterns to see how they moved and when there would be a good chance for her and Kili to make a move. All of a sudden, she saw a gap in their pattern. It would only last a few moments, but she had to go for it. She grabbed a hold of the unsuspecting male's hand beside her and wrenched him behind her, diving behind the next piece of rock. Pulling him down, she held her breath, hoping that they had got away with their move. She pressed a finger to her lips and she and Kili pressed their back against the hard rock face, praying that they hadn't been seen.
Fili pushed through the mist of cobwebs, moving numerous things aside in search for a key. He pulled pots off of rotting wooden shelves, shoving them carelessly on the table. He hoped that luck was with him and no one was on the other side of the door and could hear him. After he had pulled half the pots off, the splintering wood collapsed, unable to hold the weight of the remaining pots that were only on one half of the shelf now. It fell with an almighty crash and Fili leapt back as pots smashed upon the floor and boxes and dust cascaded everywhere. He stood stock still. He listened, straining his ears to try and hear any sounds outside the room over the heavy thump of his heart. After a minute, he let out the breath he had been holding on to. As far as he could tell, no one was close enough to hear the noise he made. Looking down at the mess of smashed brittle clay and the various things stored inside them, he saw something shine amongst the mess. His eyes widened and he stooped down, pushing rubble aside and digging out the silver object – A key! He rushed back to the door and thrust it into the lock. He tugged with all his might, but it wouldn't turn. Yanking at it, he realised he couldn't get it out either. It was the wrong key and he'd managed to get it stuck in the door. "NO!" He yelled and grabbed a pot, throwing it full force at the far wall where it shattered into dozens of shards, sending dust flying into a cloud. The dwarven prince took a few steps back before launching himself at the door with all his might, trying to force it open. His knees buckled and his body crumpled as he smashed his shoulder into it. He gasped in pain and held it tight, a small whine escaping his throat. He gritted his teeth, tears of pain and anger brimming his eyelids. He had to do this. For Kili. He jumped back up, his shoulder throbbing, and kicked hard at the door. The wood where he hit splintered slightly. He kept on kicking and kicking, taking out all his anger and desperation on the wood of the door, dust soaring all about him. After one last tremendous kick, the door flew backwards, the wood splintering with a cracking sound. It hit the marble floor outside with a dull but loud thud. Sharp pieces of stubborn wood were still stuck around the metal lock where the silver was still set. Fili had managed to rip the door off of it completely. He sighed in relief and triumph, diving through the doorway. He was going to get his brother back.
(A/N:) Thanks so much for reading! I've had tonnes of awesome reviews and a lot of followers join since the last chapter and I just want to thank you! I am really glad to hear that you are all enjoying the story, more will be coming very soon! Fili is such an awesome brother, isn't he? Sorry that Kili and Tauriel didn't do much this chapter, there will be more action for them in the next one, I promise. At least you got Fili being awesome instead! Please review, thanks again for reading! :D