Tauriel and Eradan ran to the wash room.

"Honestly Fili," Tauriel laughed. "I thought you were suppose to be giving him a bath, not the other way around."

Fili sat on the floor next to the small tub that was used for Tili's baths. Fili was soaked and Tili sat in his tub, clapping his hands. Eradan laughed at the sight of the King of Erebor dripping wet at the hands of a toddler. His hair and mustache dripped water on to his shoulders.

"I was getting the soap and the next thing I knew a bucket of water was being poured over my head," Fili spluttered. Tauriel handed him a towel as she got down to finish washing her son.

"I should have warned you about his new favorite game," she laughed.

Eradan held out her hand to Fili, who took it and stood up. She was still laughing.

"Think it's funny, do you?" Fili asked with a laugh.

He shook his hands at Eradan, sending droplets of water at her face. She laughed even harder as she took his towel from him and wiped the water off of herself. Then she held the towel up to his face, ready to help him dry his hair, but she stopped herself before she touched him and simply held out the towel to him instead. Their laughter died down to smiles as they looked at each other for several moments.

Tili's squeal at being pulled out of his bath and wrapped in a towel reminded Fili and Eradan they weren't alone. They both backed away from each other and walked back out to the sitting room. They didn't say anything to each other and Fili kept working to dry himself off. They kept giving each other short, embarrassed glances until Tauriel walked in several minutes later. She handed Fili his nephew, who was now dressed and ready for bed. Tili's hand went to his favorite braid in Fili's hair.

"Night, night, Tili. I hope you sleep well," Fili whispered into the boy's ear.

"Eradan," Tauriel said, "if you don't have plans for tomorrow, come back over. I'll take you to Dale and we can visit the markets."

"Really? That sounds like lots of fun, thank you," Eradan answered. She had never been around an elf before today and was always told never to trust elves, but she found herself liking this elf. She was treating her like an old friend instead of an ugly stranger.

The next morning Eradan knocked on Tauriel's door. The graceful elf opened it. She was wearing some appropriate travel clothes and had a sling strapped to her back.

"Almost ready," Tauriel said as she picked up Tili and laced his arms and legs into the sling.

"Da?" Tili pointed at Eradan.

"Morning, Tili," Eradan had to practically stand on her tip toes to reach the baby's chin and tickle it.

"Da?" he asked again.

"Eradan," she said. "I'm Eradan."

"Dan?"

"What?" Tauriel laughed. "Oh Fili will be so jealous when he finds out Tili said your name first."

Eradan was slightly embarrassed. "Well, my name's so close to his favorite word, it wasn't hard to make the sound change. It was probably an accident anyway."

They walked together and Tauriel led them out of the mountain and on the road to Dale. The day was bright and sunny. It wasn't long before Tili fell asleep, lulled by his mother's walking gait.

"It's nice to be out of the mountain," Tauriel took a deep breath.

"How long have you lived there?" Eradan asked.

"Since it was reclaimed, about a year and a half ago."

"That's when Kili died?"

"Yes. It was a horrible battle. Kili and Thorin were both killed and we almost lost Fili."

"I'm sorry," Eradan said. She looked up at Tauriel's face. She couldn't read the elf's expression. "And I'm sorry, this subject is much too personal to bring up in conversation. I hope you can forgive me."

"There is nothing to forgive." Tauriel looked at the young dwarf. "If you have any intention of living here, and I hope you do, you need to know a bit about what happened, especially when it comes to Fili. Do you like him?"

"Well, yes," Eradan stuttered. "I suppose I do. He is one of the kindest people I've ever met and I think you might be the second most kind person I've ever met."

Tauriel felt very sad for the girl if just now in her life she felt she was meeting kind people, but with Eradan being a dwarf, Tauriel could never show her pity. That would be more painful to a dwarf than a knock on the head by an axe.

"I believe Fili is fond of you, too."

Eradan nodded. "May I tell you something?"

Tauriel nodded and stopped walking. Eradan's face turned red. "I think Fili came very close to kissing me last night."

Tauriel smiled, seeing the look of love in the dwarf's eyes. "But he did not?"

"No. He was close, but I think he remembered we were standing in a public hall and decided not to. I was slightly upset, but also relieved. I've never kissed anyone before," Eradan's face turned a deeper shade of red. "I wouldn't know what to do."

"You don't do anything," Tauriel smiled. "You just let it happen."

"Will you tell me more? About Fili and Kili, I mean."

They started walking again. "Of course. Now, mind you, everything I know about the brother's childhood, has been told to me by their mother, Dis, or some other close friends of the family."

Eradan nodded in understanding.

"Fili was the older brother, by five years. They are the sons of Thorin Oakenshield's younger sister, Dis. Since the day Kili was born, Fili was there. Their mother told me you never saw one without the other. They shared a close bond. Fili was extremely protective of his brother, but not overly so. He knew Kili was stronger and wiser than others realized. He was young, rash and slightly reckless," she smiled, thinking back to the day she met and fell in love with the handsome dwarf, "But Kili was also talented, intelligent, fierce, loyal and a warrior worthy to be in Thorin's company. The brothers watched out for each other. Stuck together, right to the end. Kili died in Fili's arms."

Tauriel heard Eradan give a little sniff.

"It's been a year and a half since then, which isn't a very long time, really. Fili is still deeply affected by the loss of his brother. I wouldn't question him about Kili at all. Fili will talk about him occasionally. You might remember when we first met, Fili joke about Tili getting all of his energy from Kili."

Eradan nodded. "I remember."

"He'll make little comments like that, but he does not often talk about Kili. Just don't be surprised if Fili never really talks about him. But, on the other hand, he might. You never know. I just wanted to warn you. It's a touch and go subject. If you have any questions, you can always talk to me."

"Thank you. What did Kili look like? Was he golden haired, like Fili?"

Tauriel smiled. "No. He had dark brown hair that always seemed to be in something of a mess. He had intense brown eyes and looked very much a fierce dwarf, until he smiled. Then his entire face would light up. Tili actually looks a lot like him."

"Fili has a nice smile," Eradan said. She blushed with embarrassment again.

"Yes he does."

The women made their way to the market. Eradan thought Dale's markets were the finest she had ever seen. Not that he had much to compare it too, having only been to the markets in the Grey Mountains. They walked along, chatting about everything, and looking at what all the various merchants had to offer. They let Tili out of his sling for a while so he could run off some of his endless energy. Tauriel made her purchases and put them into a bag she had strapped to her side.

The afternoon sun was starting its decent by the time they headed back to Erebor. Tili was asleep on his mother's back again. The road to Erebor was well travelled and had many inns and homes along the way. The women were passing near an inn when two large men stumbled out.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the first man asked.

"And elf and a wee dwarf lass," the second man laughed.

"Are you sure it's a dwarf?" the first man asked. "Pretty little thing doesn't have a beard. Do you lass?" His hand reached out for Eradan's face, but she slapped it away.

"Don't you touch me," Eradan growled.

"Oh, but I think I will," the man grabbed at her.