Kili could pinpoint the exact moment when any respect that his noble title might have earned him in court, disappeared. It was the day when the demand came down from King Thranduil that Kili would adhere to the rules and etiquettes of elven court. Kili could only assume that Thranduil wanted to make a fool out of him in front of everyone, for he must know that Kili had no knowledge of the ways of elves. He would have succumb to his fate of being the laughing stock of court for however long he stayed here if it had not been for Tauriel. The captain of the guards had taken the time to visit him on her off hours and attempt to teach him the ways of court. His first exercise in using this new found knowledge, it seemed, would be for the Prince's name day banquet.
Kili was made to dress in elven clothes—sleek silvery fabrics that hung loosely on him, but at least someone had gone to the trouble of hemming them to his height. Kili longed to be back in his own dwarven-made clothes, but he knew that he had to play by Thranduil's rules if he wanted his protection. Bribing the elven king with white gems might have granted him protection and favor but that was only a temporary answer. If Fili were here, his brother being ever the diplomat, he would have urged Kili to do whatever he could to stay in Thranduil's good graces. And if that meant suffering through a night with strangers in clothing that made him feel naked, then so be it.
Kili was waiting for dinner in the room that had been offered to him, when Tauriel announced herself outside his door. He called her in and was surprised to see her carrying a box, not unlike the one that his courting gift was in. That thought alone made Kili's chest seize up with unease, but he forced himself to sit still and listen as Tauriel opened the box and told him, "King Thranduil would like you to wear this for the celebration tonight."
Kili gazed down at the box to see a heavy gold circlet resting on the velvet with three, dark blue, sodalite gemstones embedded in it on the front and sides of the circlet. The crafting style was distinctly dwarvish which made Kili wonder how Thranduil could have come into possession of such an item, especially one made for royalty.
He picked up the circlet and balanced it between his fingertips. "I've only ever worn one of these once… when Uncle Thorin had his coronation. Erebor was still in such a mess that Balin just went into the treasury and dusted off the first two crowns he came across."
He huffed a laugh as he stared at his reflection in the gold. "They didn't even fit properly, but we were all too afraid that Thorin might fall under the gold sickness again to worry about our appearances. I guess people might find it a bit more graceless if my crown is falling off during this type of setting, won't they?"
Tauriel tried not to laugh at him, but her mouth parted in an open smile that suggested silent laughter. "Yes, I know I wouldn't want to talk to a prince with a crown sliding down his nose."
Kili glared up at her through his bangs. "I never said that it was that big on me. Exactly how small do you think my head is?"
"Honestly, with the way that you were shamelessly flirting with me when we first met, I'm surprised that you even got it on your head to begin with."
Kili rolled his eyes at her. "Oh, har-har. You're one to talk, you dagger hoarding scoundrel. By the way, Fili is still annoyed with you for that. What kind of person doesn't give someone a dagger when they're in mortal danger?"
"You were my prisoner!" Tauriel cried. "And a stranger."
"Well I can't really hold that one against you, can I?" sighed Kili. He combed his bangs into some semblance of an order and placed the circlet on his head, but for the life of him couldn't get it to sit straight.
"By the maker, I'll never understand how something that is supposed to slip on your head is so hard to wear." cursed Kili. Tauriel stood up and moved behind him. "Here, let me."
Kili's thoughts wandered back to that night when all of this mess started, that celebration for the reunion of their people. Quite like Tauriel was doing now, Fili had sat behind him helping him look presentable. Kili wondered to himself if this was history repeating itself — in which case Kili was doomed to an even worse fate than what had already been thrown at him, or if perhaps it was a sign of things coming full circle and the end of this nightmarish situation.
"There." declared Tauriel. "With this on you look almost as magnificent as King Thranduil himself. He'll love you."
Kili did not think he looked magnificent. If anything he looked older… he felt older with the weight of it resting on his forehead. He tried to conceal his gloomy expression like he would probably be doing for the rest of the night. He still had a few more moments in peaceful company with Tauriel though, so he might as well enjoy them.
"Don't let your King hear you say that. He might think it's a beauty contest." Kili winked at her through the reflection in the mirror.
There was a knock at the door. "You may enter." Tauriel called out.
The door opened part way, revealing an elf with coppery red hair. "Prince Kili's presence is called for at the celebration, Captain."
"Thank you, Toron. You may go. I will see that the Prince arrives safely." replied Tauriel.
The elf bowed and left.
Tauriel and Kili walked in silence until they were standing in the hall that entered into the room where the party was being held. Kili could already hear the lute music playing slow and quite. He rolled his eyes heavenward. What had he gotten himself into?
Tauriel caught his expression and smiled. "Remember what I taught you and try not to offend anyone too badly.
"Right." Kili sighed and rounded the corner into the room. The cluster of elves that had been conversing nearest to him stuttered to a stop, their eyes appraising his appearance haughtily. One of them, Kili ventured a guess that it was a woman, failed to conceal a giggle behind her hand. Kili's hands balled into fists. He wanted nothing more than to turn back the way he'd come and stay in his rooms like he'd been doing for much of his stay here. But then Tauriel stepped up behind him and nudge him in the shoulder discreetly, and he figured he had no choice but to move forward into the room. Halfway across the room he was flagged down by one of Thranduil's servants.
"Dinner is about to start master Kili. The King asks that you take the seat next to him."
"Of course. Lead the way." The servant brought him over to a long table and pulled out the chair for him. Kili sat down, his eyes flickering around him at the other elves to figure out what he was supposed to do next. Mimicking the elf seated on his left, Kili pulled his napkin onto his lap and took a small sip of water.
A server came around the table and stood behind Kili's shoulder. "Would you care for some wine, Sir?"
"Yes," Kili said perhaps too earnestly, for King Thranduil who was seated at Kili's right and at the head of the table, smirked at him over his own glass of wine. "Thank you." Kili replied to the server in a calmer tone and took only a small sip of his wine, trying to appear more relaxed than he felt.
It became easier as the minutes ticked on and the food was brought out and Kili realized he would not have to talk to many people. Kili lamented that though there actually was meat on the table, unlike when they ate dinner in Rivendell, it was still not what he was used to. Still Kili took his serving of leafy greens and lean meat and picked at it with as much interest as he could muster up. Considering himself an open minded and adventurous person, he stabbed a green leaf with his fork and ate it. It was crunchy and tasteless, Kili quickly decided he hated it and hurriedly swallowed it down with wine.
"I have not seen much of you during your stay here, Prince Kili. Are you enjoying your stay in my kingdom?" asked Thranduil.
"I am, though the time would pass by easier if I were allowed outside, perhaps with my bow." Kili replied, hoping the King would finally relent and return his weapon to him.
"I'm sorry but we cannot have you with weapons inside my court. Only my guards are allowed armed inside these halls."
"And yourself and the Prince." Kili didn't feel bad reminding him after the day when he saw Prince Legolas walking around with his Uncle's sword. His company had lost all of their weapons when they were imprisoned, and they were never returned to them, now Kili was going to lose another bow to these elves.
"Yes," Thranduil replied smoothly, eyes narrowing at him, but Kili turned his face down towards his plate. They lapsed into silence for awhile.
"You look very much like a younger version of Thorin wearing that." Thranduil spoke up, indicating the circlet on Kili's forehead. It took Kili a moment to realize that he might have been given the closest thing he was ever going to get to a compliment from the King.
"Thank you." said Kili, daring to look him in the eyes.
"Aren't you curious about how I came to possess it?" asked Thranduil, eyebrows raised. "Was it given to me as a gift? Or perhaps I won it as a spoil of war—"
"Perhaps you imprisoned the last dwarf who wore it and failed to return it to him. You do seem to be very forgetful when it comes to returning things that don't belong to you." The bite to his words was harsh and Kili regretted them the moment they left his mouth. He had the sudden vision of himself being dragged from the party and thrown out of Thranduil's kingdom into the night.
Kili rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm sorry that was impolite of me."
Thranduil put down his glass of wine. "Well, now I can understand why your betrothed had such a hard time handling you. You're a wild little one, aren't you?"
Kili blushed hard and it had nothing to do with the wine. "I— well, I— "
Thranduil laughed greatly as his unease. "I'll tell you what… I'll promise to return all of your company's weapons to you at your departure from my kingdom if you answer a few of my questions. Do we have an agreement?"
"Yes," Kili replied, excited at the fact of his bow and Fili's twin swords being returned to him.
"Good," remarked Thranduil, swirling his finger around the rim of his glass as he thought of his first question. "What did you think you would accomplish by seeking protection in my kingdom?"
Kili sighed. "Time? Just… time to keep everything from falling apart. If I stayed in Erebor and married Sevrin, I would leave for his kingdom the next day. It would be too late for anyone to help me at that point, even Thorin himself couldn't stop my mistreatment without breaking the ties between the Iron Hills and Erebor. It would destroy everything that my marriage was trying to accomplish, worse it might throw us into civil war."
"If it was time that you wanted, why not travel farther to the towns of men or even to Rivendell? A farther distance would mean more time that your people would have to spend searching for you."
"I didn't want to go too far in case Fili— if he were to wake—" Kili ducked his head as his eyes betrayed him and started to water. He did not want anyone at the table to see and find another reason to make fun of him. A pale hand offered him a silky handkerchief.
Kili took it and flickered his watery gaze up towards Thranduil in a silent thank you. He dabbed at his eyes.
"Well, you did not travel far from your kin, nor your persecutors, so now my question is what would you have me do when men come tomorrow to persuade you out of hiding?" asked Thranduil.
"Tomorrow?" Kili's head shot up.
Thranduil nodded. "I delayed for a long as I could, but a second letter arrived from Erebor this morning asking if you had passed through my kingdom. I was required to tell your King that you came to me fearing for your safety and I offered you sanctuary. I expect they will be here at the earliest time possible and that your future husband will be leading the march."
Kili shuddered at the thought of being in Sevrin's presence again after a few days apart from him. There was no way for Kili to know what trick he might have up his sleeve, or what news he might bring from Erebor.
"I suppose it's too much to ask that you kill him on sight?" Kili joked, but the fear in his voice was evident.
Thranduil placed a hand upon Kili's own, an action that was surprisingly comforting from the haughty elven king. "I have no love for abusers or manipulative people but the most I could do is to have him imprisoned if he threatens the life of anyone in my court. Though, as I have come to see it, those types of people are very hard to trap."
"But they are very good at making other people feel trapped…" Kili played with the handkerchief in his hands.
"Your Grace, this has just arrived by a night rider at our gates." A guard spoke up beside Thranduil's chair, offering him something cinched in a velvet purse.
Thranduil took the purse from the guard. "Thank you. Is that all?"
"The rider seems to have gone through some trouble on his way here. He fell from his horse after asking for us to give this to the guest in Mirkwood. " The guard's eyes flicked to Kili.
"See to it that he is taken care of by our healers." Thranduil replied.
As the guard left, Thranduil quirked a brow at Kili. "It seems this is for you."
He handed the purse to Kili, who opened the purse and tilted it until the object inside dropped into his hand. It was a decorative wooden box, small enough that Kili could clasp it in his palm.
"Does this mean anything to you?" asked Thranduil.
At first it didn't as Kili spun it around in his hands, but upon taking a closer look at the craftsmanship, it brought back long forgotten memories from Kili's childhood. Kili's face broke into a smile. "It's a gift from Bofur, a puzzle box. He used to make them all the time for me as a child. I remember playing with them all day trying to figure out how to open it, but once I did there'd always be a message from him inside…" A moment later, a realization came to him. "He's sending me a message!"
Kili's fingers scrambled around the edges of the box, sliding the pieces back and forth, looking for the pattern that would unlock it. It was a five step sequence, almost exactly the same pattern Kili remembered Bofur designed for him as a child. Kili realised that Bofur must have done that purposely so that Kili would remember how to open it. Kili pushed the last piece into place and then he opened the lid of the box. Inside lay a small scroll of paper, about the same size as the scrolls they attached to their raven's legs to send messages. Kili unrolled it carefully, his heart racing at the three words written on it.
He is awake.
Kili felt a sob break free from him and his eyes watered anew. The people sitting around him at the table stared and whispered among themselves, but Kili didn't care. He pressed his hands into his eyes, overcome with relief.
"Fili." He smiled.