"Kili, you're a warrior- not a lover. You cannot be distracted on this quest. You need to be training, learning, studying your brother and with your brother. You've got no time for love."

Kili looked at his Uncle with tears in his eyes,

"I do that already and she's not a distraction!"

Thorin stood up and raised his voice,

"Oh? You seemed totally distracted with your lips going at it like there was no tomorrow."

"So? We were at Beorn's- a hundred percent protected! And I'm almost never without my daggers and bow and arrows! I'll train everyday with Fili but don't forget SHE is training, too! She's no distraction, she keeps me going.

I love her, Uncle and she will be my wife- I'm going to marry her!"

At this, both Fili and Erin both gasped and covered their mouths with their hands. Erin started tearing up and said,

"Oh my gosh! Kahlan's getting married!"

"Maybe not. First, I don't thin she knows Kili wants to and second- don't forget Uncle Thorin."

Thorin's voice boomed across the room.

"NO! I FORBID IT! I do not want you talking to her- unless she's training do you understand, Kili?!"

Kili turned around and punched the wall,

"Whatever, Uncle. Whatever."

Thorin sat back down and said to himself,

"Come on, Bilbo. Where are you?"

When the dwarves got captured by the elves, Bilbo still had the ring on, so no one saw him.

He didn't know it but he was in the king's royal room.

Tauriel has been requested to report to Thranduil about what to do on Mirkwood's borders. Bilbo had the ring on, so he wasn't seen. Thranduil was right in front of him, he said,

"I know you're there. Why do you linger in the shadows?"

Bilbo almost had a heart attack but then Tauriel walked up from behind him and he released a deep breath.

Bilbo was in the palace searching for the keys that would unlock the cell doors.

"I was coming to report to you."

"I thought I ordered that nest to be destroyed not two moons past?"

Tauriel started pacing back and forth,

"We cleared the forest as ordered, my lord. But more spiders keep coming up from the South. They are spawning in the ruins of Dol Guldur. If we could kill them at their source."

"A fortress lies beyond our borders. Keep our lands clear of those foul creatures- that is your task."

Tauriel replied,

"And when we drive them off? What then? Will they not spread to other lands?"

"Other lands are not my concern."

Tauriel looked at him...feeling anger swelling within her. How could Thranduil be this heartless?

Bilbo quietly started walking around the room, searching for the keys.

"Fortunes of the world will rise and fall but here in this kingdom- we will endure."

Tauriel just looked at the ground and made to walk away but just as her back turned, he started speaking again.

"Legolas said you fought well today," making her turn her face towards him.

She looked at him,

"He has grown quite fond of you."

"I assure you, my lord, Legolas thinks of me no more than as a caption of the guard."

"Perhaps he did once. Now, I'm not so sure."

"I do not thinn you would allow your son to pledge himself to a lowly Silvan elf."

"You're right I wouldn't. Still he cares for you. Do not give him hope where there is none."

Eventually Tauriel got back to her room.

"So, I have to go and watch the prisoners. It's time for my shift. I like you and I'd like to think we've become friends. I'm not supposed to do this but as your friend, if you want me to send a message to your lover, I will."

Kahlan jumped up and hugged Tauriel tight and said,

"Thank you! Yes I'd love to!"

Tauriel gave her a parchment, quill and ink pot.

Kili,

Don't worry I'm safe. Tauriel has been very good to me. She is the one who had the idea for this letter. I want you to know, I do forgive you for how you treated me in Mirkwood but if you don't love me anymore- we don't have to be together.

I love you and if I don't make you happy, I want you to have someone who does. I love you, my Kili. I will forever.

Love,

Kahlan

She rolled it up and gave it to Tauriel who took it and left with a smile.

Tauriel head parchment in the pocket of her jacket. She tried to remember Kili. She knew he looked in resemblance to the leader of the group, Thorin Oakenshield.

As she made her way into the dungeons, she looked in every cell until she came across two dwarves. She knew it was Thorin and Kili when she saw them.

Kili was slumped in the back corner. He had cried himself to sleep. Thorin was wide awake, however.

"Thorin?" He looked at the elf.

"What do you want?" He growled.

"Is he Kili?"

"What do you want?!"

She handed him the parchment,

"I will be back around in one hour. Have him write on the back."

Throin rolled it open as Tauriel walked away and read the letter. His eyes went over to Kili. His back was against the wall, his chin barely touching his right shoulder, his legs spread.

His right leg laid on its side and his left knee was up in the air, his arms and hands in his lap. He looked so peaceful.

Thorin remembered when he and Fili were so little. Kili was barely a month old when their dad, Frerin, died in battle. Ever since then, Thorin has done his best to make sure they were ready for anything, well trained and always prepared.

It broke his heart to do this to Kili but he had promised Frerin to care for his boys, should something happen. So Thorin had to. He read Kahlan's letter but then he turned it over and wrote the following:

Kahlan,

I appreciate your letter and glad to know you're safe. However, I think it's best if we DO go our separate ways. I realize I just had a crush on you and I think I just got carried away.

I'm sorry for everything. We will still train together but nothing beyond that. I think this is best. I need to focus on this quest. I hope you understand.

-Kili