Thorin patted his eldest Nephew on the shoulder in goodbye. "Now. What do you do if an Elf tries to bewitch you?" He asked for the umpteenth time.

"Not the stranger danger lecture, I beseech you." Fili chuckled, pulling his uncle into a hug.

"So, I'll see you at the Party, pipsqueak?" Legolas asked, Patting Gimli on the shoulder.

"You can bet on it Gigantor. Then we'll see who can truly drink the most." He chuckled, watching as Legolas walked over to Fili and his Uncle.

Ori stood a bit further down than Gimli, talking to Tauriel, still under the watchful eye of his brothers and the odd glance from Dwalin.

"Thank you for everything, Tauriel." Ori said quietly, smiling up at the elf, fumbling in his pocket for a small piece of paper.

"The pleasure was all mine, master Ori." Tauriel bowed a little and smiled. "I trust you'll be at the gathering as well?" She asked sheepishly as Fili slung his sack over his shoulder and stood by Legolas, ready to leave.

"I hope so." Ori smiled, pulling out the paper. "Here. You said you liked it, and I did another one for my book earlier, so I'd like you to have it." He said, blushing slightly.

Tauriel looked at the paper and blushed in return. "I'll have it framed and put on my wall" She said quietly, smiling. She tore one of the necklaces from her neck -a silver one with opals set in it - and placed it in Ori's hand. "Here, have this in return. My gift to you." She smiled one last time and made her way towards Legolas and Fili.

"A dwarf Taurie?" Legolas smirked, noting the paper in her hand before setting off towards the horses. "You're going to have to ride with one of us, We'll get there faster that way. Which one of us would you rather Master Fili?" He asked, smiling down at the Dwarf.

"Don't tell me that you haven't had your eye on Gimli for the past day." Tauriel teased as Legolas blushed.

"I don't really mind." Fili grinned contently. "Just chuck me on whichever one."

"You'll come with me then." Legolas smiled, packing their things onto the horses. "Friends, Taurie, friends. Besides, he actually gave you something. Can I see?" He asked, turning on the elf. "Pleaseeeeee?"

"Admit your attraction to Gimli and I may let you see an inch of it." Tauriel smirked, mounting her horse.

Fili shrugged and swaggered over to Legolas' horse, hooking his foot in the stirrup and swinging his leg over. "Aulë this is high..." He said weakly, trying not to look down.

"Not going to happen. What did you give him in return?" Legolas chuckled, swinging himself up onto the horse. "You bad with heights?" He asked quietly as to not attract attention from Tauriel.

"I gave him my silver necklace." Tauriel muttered under her breath.

Fili shook his head and instinctively gripped the reins for security. "I'm not so good with them. Not as bad as my Brother. He's quite funny to antagonise."

"Awwww Taurie's in love, Taurie's in love." Legolas chanted, watching the Elleth's face go through all different shades of red before regarding Fili again. "I did wonder why he looked green when Falaroy was hanging from the Ceiling. That explains it."

"Falaroy?" Fili raised an eyebrow, clinging tighter to the horse's reins as it sped off. He waved one last goodbye to Lónia, blowing her a kiss before turning back around. "I think Ori's definitely in love." He chuckled.

"Falaroy's my Ada's ward. He lost his mother quite recently and his father not so long ago to the spiders. Ada took him in and he's been living with him ever since." Legolas explained, "He has a particular fondness of climbing things when he's eaten sweets, or as your brother puts it, Levitating to high places." The elf turned around to look at Ori, who was clasping the necklace in his hands protectively away from Nori and smiled. "Yes, I think he is."

"What do you think, Taurie?" Fili smirked, looking at the Elleth. "I miss Kili." He chuckled fondly, thinking about his younger brother. "So I guess he's like your younger brother or something, Falaroy?"

Legolas chuckled as Tauriel glared at Fili and urged the horse to move a bit faster. "You'll see him soon. He's made a nuisance of himself at times though. He painted the courtyard and it's inhabitants multicoluored for a bet against Ada. He got all of the young ones to help him too." He laughed, recalling the elfling that poured paint over his head. "Yeah, he is now anyway."

"Aulë forbid you let both of us loose in Mirkwood." Fili chuckled. "If you value your kingdom, keep us far away from it. Is it nice to have a sibling, or were you not already an only child?" Fili asked curiously, trying to keep calm at the distance between him and the floor.

Legolas wrapped an arm around the dwarf to keep him steady, grabbing onto the reigns with his other hand. "I guess it's nice. I've always been an only child. It'll be fun watching him grow up, although I'm not looking forward to him being a teenager... Valar it's going to be interesting."

Fili laughed at this and clung to the Prince's arm. "We were all twats when we were teenagers. I bet even you were." He smiled, lifting his head to gauge Legolas' facial expression. Tauriel had sped off, muttering something about Dwarfs.

"I wasn't as bad as I could have been, considering. I gave Thranduil a run for his money though." Legolas smirked, speeding the horse up to catch up with Tauriel.

"You Father was a trouble maker?" Fili asked curiously, eyes clouding with fear as the stallion galloped considerably faster.

Legolas tightened his grip on the dwarf but kept going. "That's what Elrindir tells me anyway. Ada wouldn't admit to anything. Apparently after Durin's Day a few centuries ago he woke up half way up a tree naked and stinking of alcohol. I don't know how embelished it is, but apparently Thranduil's father wasn't best pleased." He chuckled.

Fili took a moment to process the information. "Thorin has a story similar to that. My mother told Kili and I not so long ago. He ended up wearing a corset, lying atop a pile of gold and fluttering his eyelashes at the Arkenstone." Fili chortled. "How far to Mirkwood?"

"About an hour at the rate we're going." Legolas smiled, trying to imagine Thorin in a corset. "I would pay to see that." He chuckled, flipping off Tauriel as they went past.

"An hour? But...It took you a day to get here..." Fili said with confusion, laughing heartily as Legolas flipped him off. "You know, I've heard rumours about you. But you're actually pretty funny."

"That's because somebody took us the long way round. If that person, which could be literally anyone who went to Erebor from Mirkwood yesterday, had listened to me, we would have got there sooner. Plus we have faster horses today." He smirked, chuckling at Tauriel who stuck her tongue out at him. "Why thank you, you're not so bad yourself. Why? What have you heard about me?" He grinned, suddenly changing direction towards the forest.

"Well, apparently you're...a little slow. Not my words, other people's. Apparently you stare vacantly into the distance." The Dwarf said thoughtfully, wincing as the hair clasps on his moustache hit his cheeks because of the wind.

"I am. I also have a rather fetching habit of zoning out on people and stating the obvious. It runs in the family, though I have it worse than Ada." He chuckled, slowing the horse down marginally so Tauriel could catch up.

"I can't wait to meet this wonderful Elvenking I keep getting told about." Fili smirked, glancing at Tauriel. "Everyone seems to be crushing on him. Apart from you, obviously."

"Really? That's a little bit doubtful." Legolas said thoughtfully, before reminding himself that he couldn't crash into another tree because of zoning out and looked back to the track.

"No. Kili, from what I know for one. And then everyone else keeps talking about him. And if he produced you then I can gauge some sort of appearance. You're a handsome Elf." Fili shrugged, warning Legolas about the upcoming tree before maintaining content.

"Why thank you Fili. And I knew something was going on between them! Ha! 'Good thing I've raised you to know better' my arse." Legolas beamed, considering ways to annoy his Ada and Kili when he got back.

"What! No! It's one sided! No! Mahal he's going to kill me." Fili put a hand to his face as he grew flustered.

"Ha yeah okay. What ever you say. I really believe you." Legolas chuckled, urging the horse faster as Tauriel took over them.

"No, I'm sure Thranduil's never looked at him in that - ugh. There's no point now. You know." Fili sighed. "Oh, are we racing her now?"

"I'm pretty sure he has." Legolas grinned, sticking his tongue out at the Elleth. "No, but it's funny annoying her. Plus, we'll get there quicker."

"I want to get there quick!" Fili announced in a child like manner. "It's been almost a year since I've seen my brother. To be almost attached at the hip to someone all your life and then not see them for a year...you just miss them." He mumbled, also poking his tongue out at Tauriel. "Oh, it is fun."

"We'll be there soon, don't worry. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you too." He reassured him, changing direction slightly. "I know right. Come on Taurie, or can't you keep up?!"

"I hope he hasn't change too much." Fili mused, wincing as Legolas jerked the reins. "Please don't challenge her. It'll get really speedy and end in tears. Most likely mine."

"I very much doubt he has. If anything, he missed you. Besides, you will have changed too." He said quietly, slowly catching up with Tauriel. "Alright, fine." He sulked. "Taurie, slow it down a little, we don't want to have the horses collapse on us."

"I know. I can only hope that we're not too different." Fili mumbled, smiling as Legolas sulked. "You can run your horses to the ground when I'm not riding them with you."

"You won't be." Legolas smiled, slowing the horse down to a walk. "Aw, that's no fun."

"Fun. Fun is painting my uncles throne in daisy patterns the day before Durin's day and watching him go ape shit. Fun is not risking my life. Crazy, adrenaline rush seeking Elves." Fili huffed, folding his arms and entrusting himself in the Prince's grip. "And you'd best be keeping a firm grip of me."

"I think that was your brother's inspiration for painting the courtyard." He chuckled. "I've got a firm grip on you, trust me. You're not going anywhere. Adrenaline seeking... Life is too long."

"Yeah. 'Scuse me, but 395 is a nice age for me and I'd like to live to it." He scowled, testing Legolas' grip by poking his arm and then trying to move his arm. When it didn't budge he smiled with content. "Good to go, Leggles."

"...395? How old are you? How old's your brother?" He asked, face falling slightly. "Trust me."

"I'm eighty four, my brother is seventy seven. The average life span for a Dwarf is three hundred and ninety five. Why do you seem so concerned by that?" Fili quirked a brow, gripping onto the reins for extra measure.

"Elves... Well we live much longer than that. We see men born and die, and know them throughout their lives. When an elf finally gives up, they travel to Valinor. I'm just.. Never mind. Was a stupid thought anyway. I need to keep my eyes on the road, not in the clouds." He said slowly, going completely quiet after he said his piece. But what if my thoughts are true and ada really does love the dwarf? If Kili only lives until he's 395, will he sail to valinor with him? I'll loose him, and gain a kingdom. This isn't all that good.

"Hey, it's better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all." Fili said, as if reading Legolas' mind. "But if you're immortal and you can die of heartbreak...I wonder if they've even consider that, or if they've been too wrapped up in it all."

"Probably the latter. They've been really secretive about everything." Legolas sighed. "I guess you're right though. Ada went through a loss when my mother died, and only just got though that... They have 300 odd years together yet though."

"Some Elf must have rubbed off on him then. Kili wouldn't know discretion if it ran naked into his room." Fili chuckled fondly. "Yes. 300 years is a good period of time. Love is a torturous thing in any culture. Your Father is happy for the moment after enduring such pain for so long. That's a positive, at least."

"I have to agree on that. I suppose that they'll travel to Valinor after that time is up." He said calmly as they passed laketown. "Taurie, fancy getting something to eat? Bard owes me a drink from the tavern from last time I saw him."

Fili was just about to protest, realising that he would have sounded like a spoiled brat and resorted to scowling. "I'll walk on." He said with a smile. "Really, I know my Uncle and Brother have the directional sense of a spoon, I'm pretty good with it."

"We don't have to go, it was only an option. How often do you eat in a day?" he asked, thinking back to hobbit culture.

"As often as men, maybe a little more. Lots and lots of meat involved." Fili shrugged. "I tend to eat less than the others though. Why?" He quirked a brow lazily.

"It's good to know. I didn't know if you ate as much as hobbits or not." he said, speeding the horse up again.

"No race in the entire of Middle Earth eats as much as Hobbits." Fili chuckled fondly, gasping as he was taken off guard by the speed of the horse. "You ask a lot of trivial questions."

"Small questions not only keep the conversation going, it also helps outline the bigger picture. Like that one told me that I only need to cater for the Erebor party at regular intervals, but I will have to get Bilbo more food for things like second breakfast that hobbits do so enjoy." He smiled, wrapping his arm around Fili again.

Fili hummed thoughtfully. "Wait - wouldn't your father see to that?" He asked curiously, looking around the woods. "I swear I could just hear singing. Was that your lot? Apparently sometimes Elves sing in the forest. That's what Ori says. And he's the go to person for Elves."

"I get delegated things for parties. I always get given catering." Legolas muttered. "That's a small minority of us, mainly the elves from Rivendell. Have you ever been to Rivendell? I'm not too fond of the music..."

"It's terrible. There's no...oomph to it, ya know? That's why my Brother and I play the fiddle." He said conversationally, continuing to listen into the eerie singing that echoed throughout the trees. "I think that Mirkwood will be much better though."

"You and Kili play the fiddle? He's been keeping that one quiet." he chuckled. "I hope so. You'll enjoy it I think."

"Yes. It took a long time to get good. He's actually really talented. And he's not just good at the fiddle. He also sings. And knits. But you didn't hear it from me." Fili tapped his nose knowingly. "I think I will. The Elves here seem more...interesting."

"He knits? A good skill to have." Legolas grinned, weaving the horse through the trees. "I won't tell Ada though. He'll never hear the end of it.. We are rather interesting though. I think you'll like the armory especially."

"He only knits when he's really stressed. And you've gotten me a little more excited now." Fili beamed as he saw a pair of gargantuan, extravagant gates far off into the distance. "Is that your palace?!" He asked, not even attempting to conceal his excitement.

"That's the one. It's a bit much, but it's home." he smiled, turning his head to beam at Tauriel. "Palace in the distance!"

"It's beautiful. I love the craftsmanship." He said in amazement, studying it more as they grew nearer. He was excited to be nearer. Closer to his brother, and closer to solid ground - which he had missed so dearly. "Is all Mirkwood architecture this lavish?"

"More or less. You should see outside of the King's chambers if you like that. Or mine, that one's rather extravagant too. The insides of the rooms are truly beautiful, really well structured." He smiled, slowing the horse down as they got nearer.

"I'll definitely check it out Durin my stay." Fili chuckled, nudging Legolas as best he could. "Get it? Heh. When's the party?"

Legolas shook his head and smiled. "Very good. The party is towards the end of next week, when everyone's assembled and settled."

"Oh, that's not too far away then." He said happily as Legolas pulled the horse to a gradual halt. "Can my Fiancé come?" He asked hopefully. "I'm going to miss her."

"Of course she can! It would be rude of me to say no. So, what's she like then?" he asked as the gated opened and they rode into the courtyard, children, including Falaroy who the elf-prince waved to, ran along behind them.

"Beautiful, and funny, and she's smart. She's unlike any woman I've ever met." Fili blurted with a dreamy look on his face, before snapping out of it and chuckling at the waving Elfling. "I'm guessing that's Falaroy then?"

"You sound complete and utterly in love, completely head over heels for her." Legolas beamed. "It would be an insult if she didn't come. And yes, that's him." He chuckled, bringing the horse to a stop as he swung himself off of the horse. "You going to be alright getting down?"

"I'm besotted, to say the least." Fili admitted, hooking his foot into the stirrup and swinging his leg over before jumping to the ground. "Yep." He raised his gaze to Legolas and smiled.

"Falaroy! What have I told you about running- FILI!" Kili shouted, running over to his brother and embraced him warmly while Legolas scooped Falaroy into his arms.

"Where's Ada, mischeif?" he asked, hugging the small child.

"Asleep." the elfling said with a smile. "Mister Elrindir said he had three more days to sleep yet. He must be really tired."

"Brother! It's been so long!" Fili beamed, taking Kili in a death grip for a good long moment. "I think I may weep."

Legolas quirked a brow and concern flickered over his face before the realisation hit him. He chuckled, before breaking into a hearty laugh. "The silly bastard's got himself paralysed by a spider, hasn't he?" He choked, continuing to laugh.

"Please don't." He laughed, whacking his head against his brother's. "You need to tell me about this girl you're courting." he smiled, before looking over at Legolas. "Language! But yes, yes he has. Idiot of an elf decided to get caught by them. I had to climb trees and throw knives to save him."

Legolas managed to calm himself, before bursting into laughter once again at the thought of his father paralysed. "I appreciate that this is a serious matter-" Breathe "-and that he could have died-" breathe. He calmed down slowly and leveled his breathing. "But...it's just so stupid of him. He's my favourite person of all time. Thank you for saving him." Legolas let his expression harden a little and he nodded. "Is there anything that I can help with?"

Fili knotted a brow at the Prince. "Well I certainly wouldn't burst into laughter if my Father almost died. Nutjob."

"He said you would laugh at him, but that was only after Elrindir put some orange glob on his face." Kili chuckled, pulling lightly on one of Falaroy's braids, making him laugh. "It's all good thanks Fee. This is Falaroy by the way, I'm looking after him until Thranduil wakes up." He told him, but then lent in and spoke quietly to his brother. "They get a bit sadistic as they get into their tenth century." He chuckled, knowing full well that Legolas could hear them.

"Gods. I hate to think how sadistic Thranduil is. I almost hope he stays asleep." Fili distorted his face with mock fear, making Falaroy scowled.

"Our Ada's not scary! And I want him to wake up soon. Please don't say that, Mr. Fili!" He pouted, sadness in his eyes. "He might sleep forever then!"

Kili scowled and whacked Fili over the head before getting Falaroy passed over to him. "Thrandy's not going to sleep forever. Fili's just being stupid." He reassured the elf that was bundled in his arms, kicking Fili's shin to get a response out of him.

"Ouch!" Fili winced, making Falaroy chortle. "You know, I am going to kill you once that child's gone to sleep." He whispered in his Brother's ear playfully.

"Whatever for brother dear" Kili smirked as Falaroy looked over at the new dwarf.

"If you're 'Li's brother, would you be my uncle?" He asked innocently, earning a raised eyebrow from Fili. "I mean, 'Li's my uncle too, but he eats Ada's face. Are you going to do that too?" He said as Kili's face got progressively redder.

"I can be your Uncle." Fili grinned and patted Kili on the shoulder. "Although I have someone else's face to eat, and if you call him 'Li, then you'll have to call me Fee, in case we get confused. We're not very smart, us Dwarfs." Fili tapped Falaroy's nose gently. "And I think Uncle 'Li is going to have to tell me all about his habit of eating your Ada's face, don't you?" He chuckled fondly, messing up his younger Brother's hair.

Falaroy nodded his approval as Kili groaned, glaring darkly at his brother. "Menu shirumund." Kili scowled, moving Falaroy so he was giving him a piggyback as the elfling began to talk again.

"I thought they would have been full up from the omlut-"

"Omelette."

"Omelette, but they still were-"

"That's enough now Falaroy. Why don't we go see your friends, hmm?" Kili said, cutting into Falaroy's sentence. "Then we can go get something to eat."

The boy scampered off to play with his friends after Kili set him down, leaving Fili to bat his eyelashes at his brother. "Eating Thranduil's face?! Whatever does he mean?" He said innocently, grinning and clamping a hand on Kili's shoulder. "Come. Tell me everything."

"Whatever you do, or whatever he says, do not give that child any sweets. No matter how much he pleads, or begs, do not let him near any." he warned, shuddering at the memory of having to climb the fountain to save the elfling. "'M sort of courting Thranduil." Kili mumbled, flipping of his eyelash battering brother, and led him to a low wall where he could both see Falaroy and talk to Fili at the same time.

"You have my word." Fili raised a hand to his chest before lying on the wall on his stomach with his face in his hands, and his legs kicking the air like a gossiping school girl. "Ooh, so how far has it gone?" He asked excitedly, beaming up at Kili. A few passers by gave the two some strange looks. They've just never seen facial hair... He thought to himself, stroking his mustache. Hellooo Fili jr.

"I hate you." Kili muttered, watching the elfling run around as an excuse to avoid Fili's gaze. "Why do you want to know, pervert? Besides, Who's the lucky girl that's made you so totally whipped that you've abdicated for her? Whach-chh" He asked, miming a whip as he finished his sentence.

"Answer my question and I'll answer yours. I'm no pervert, I'm just interested in my silbling's life, is that such a crime?" Fili asked nonchalantly, casually checking his nails for dirt and not bothering to glance up at Kili. "So...spill."

"That's my sex life you're interested in." He scowled at his brother who was trying his very best to look uninterested. "Not very far if you must know." He muttered. "Now you, your turn."

"Yeah. I can tell when you're lying, Kili. I've known you all your life and since I was seven. Please. And her name's Lónia. She's the most beautiful and amazing woman who's ever existed. And we've done it. Twice." Fili seemed to have no issue in openly discussing his love life, and seeing it more as a triumph than anything. "I won her over. It's the proudest I've ever been of myself."

Kili smiled at his brother who seemed totally lovestruck before turning back to watch Falaroy. "Fine. If you must know, I've had sex twice with him and I'm not going into more detail than that." He said quietly. "I miss him. Eleven days and I still miss him. He's asleep and I've sat and talked at him twice. I fell asleep alone last night, and it's one of the most horrible things to do. I woke up early so I went to talk to him..."

"Oh, you are smitten." Fili chuckled softly, keeping his voice down. "You are totally in love with this Elf." He eased himself up to sit next to Kili and drape an arm across his shoulder. "I'm happy for you. Were you planning on...making it official? Ever?" He leaned into Kili when he asked this, as if the trees had ears.

"I don't know. It's only really been a few weeks." Kili murmured, leaning into his brother's side. "We haven't really talked about that, and the one time he did bring it up, I was going to have a conversation with him about it and he ran. That's how he got caught by the spiders." He sighed, closing his eyes for a second before opening them to look over at Falaroy. "Falaroy! Leave the poor boy alone!"

Fili looked over to the Elfling to see him picking on another. "Let me have a go at it." He walked to the two and gently rested a hand on each of their shoulders. "Hey, now what's going on?" He asked softly, sitting on the floor so he was eye-level to them.

"He was making fun of my Ada!" cried the copper-haired boy, pouting. "He said that he's the reason that the King's sleepy!"

"What's your Father's name?" Fili smiled, urging the boy to speak.

"Elrindir..."

The Dwarf took this information in before turning to Falaroy. "Now, from what I've heard, Mr Elrindir helped your Ada. You wouldn't want to be stuck in the same place for four days without sleeping, now would you?" He poked Falaroy's cheek, and the Elfling shook his head ashamedly and pouted. "And from what I also know, your Ada and his Ada are very good friends. Think how happy it would make Thrandy to see you two playing together." He continued, urging a nod of agreement from Falaroy before he looked at the other Elfling with big eyes.

"I'm sorry for making fun of your Ada, Voronwë."

"It's okay." Voronwë beamed, taking Falaroy's hand. "Thank you mister." He said to Fili. The Dwarf smiled proudly.

"Go and play now. Together." He urged the two toward the other children and admired his work, swaggering back over to Kili.

"Thanks, Fee. I owe you one." He smiled, watching his brother beam at him. "You can stop looking smug now, you've done your good deed for the year." He said rolling his eyes as he sat down. "I think you're going to be good with kids, if that was anything to go by. So, Lónia then? How did you meet her?"

"I hope to have kids." Fili began, swinging his leg back over the wall. "Well, there I was, minding my own business in the town square of Dale. I was trading with a merchant, I think. Irrelevant. I got into quite the heated discussion with him, and his daughter came out to scald me - because he was senile and she thought I was causing him trouble. It was, of course, Lónia. She stormed out of the hut and into the stall, glaring at me fiercely. That's how Ori recalled it. As I recall it, one of Mahal's sweet Nymphs descended from the Heavens to grant me the privilege of looking upon her sweet face. I don't remember much from then, I was captivated. I think I managed an apology, then fell over some barrels after turning away. She laughed, and it went from there. So when did you know that you were in love with him? When was the moment it truly clicked?" He asked eagerly, lying back on his stomach.

"We were sat in the Kitchens after... Well he stress bakes you see. As I came into the room, he tried to jump over the counter, but got his foot stuck on the way and fell to the floor. He sat and ate pie for a good long while. He told me he was lonely. I told him he was being in simple terms an idiot, and that he was surrounded by people who love him. Then I kissed him and ran out of the kitchen. Gods know which way I went or how I got there, but I ended up in the Throne room. Where the throne is, there's a massive platform, which has a lovely big drop around it. Stupidly I sat behind the throne which looks over into the ravine, and tried not to hyperventilate. He ran after me and lost me in the end I think.. don't know how. Short legs. He walked into the throne room and sat on the throne to talk to Tauriel and Legolas, who left not long after. Do you know how bloody sensitive Elves ears are? He could hear me breathing. After I shuffled away from the edge, he told me he wouldn't regret it. That was basically it." Then he tried to push me off the edge of the walkway and I screamed like a five year old girl with pig tails.

"So you were crushing on him like crazy after that? I need to know these things. You shouldn't be falling in love with people who threaten your life. When was your next kiss? I bet you were dying to kiss him again after that." Fili jumped from thought to thought, jabbing his brother in the shoulder after listening intently. "Tell. Do tell."

"I wouldn't say that." Kili sulked, leaning against his brother again. "We were down in the kitchen again. That was a day and a half. We had just finished eating and he went to put the plates in to wash, but before he moved from the seat, he lent over to kiss me. Falaroy sat and laughed at my surprised face, the little darling, This is the time he mentioned earlier. So I chucked him a toy that Bofur gave me and went to go kiss him again. That was fun, and really nice I must admit." You sat on a worktop and had the living daylights kissed out of you. Mahal knows how far it could have gone if Falaroy wasn't there..

Fili smiled and brought Kili into an embrace. "N'awrrr... my baby Ki Ki's in love." He taunted smothering him an pinching his cheeks. "Oh, you are going to be all over him when he wakes up. I'll take care of the kid." He grinned as he kept a firm grip of the younger Dwarf. "I think Ori's feeling the impact of Cupid's arrow as well, you know."

"Oh please Mr. Mahal's sweet Nymphs, I Think I can hold myself off until Falaroy goes to bed." He chuckled, elbowing Fili in the side. "Really? Who with? Tell all."

"That Tauriel woman. He drew her, Kili. And then gave her the drawing. When does he ever let anyone see his work?" Fili asked curiously. "Oh, and speaking of stress baking, I have your knitting needles in my bag. I wasn't sure what they'd have here, so I grabbed some stuff on the off chance that you got stressed. Which seems nigh-on impossible here."

"He lets me see his work, but he never gives anyone it. He went mental on me for pulling out an empty page before. 'Books are supposed to be treated with care Kili, with the upmost respect.' Yeah okay." He scoffed, shaking his head before turning to his brother in horror. "You brought what?! I left them behind for a reason, Fee."

"Just in case, don't get huffy with me! I just wanted you to have them if you get stressed! Besides, if the oh-so-godlike- Elvenking stress bakes, I don't really think you have a lot to hide." He huffed, recalling a long lost thought. "I also brought your fiddle. Just in case you fancied playing it. I miss playing it with you. And books should be respected, you illiterate fool!" He smacked his brother upside the head. "I'm sure your lover-Elf would agree to it."

"Humph. Stress baking is much better than knitting." He muttered, folding his arms. "You have? Brilliant! I've missed that fiddle. I've missed you too of course, but that fiddle..." He smirked, just dancing out of the way of being hit, until he sat back up to his proper height. "Oww... I respect books, but it was my book and it was blank! I got a lecture about my book! It doesn't matter what Nâbur thinks, he can stuff it if he thinks he can lecture me."

"He wouldn't judge you. There's no shame in knitting. You nearly knit yourself a sleeping bag when you first found out mother was sending you away." Fili sniffed, opening his sack to see if the fiddles were still in there. "Anyway...it's better than Thorin's way of venting his anger. You know, he nearly broke his fist punching the arm of the throne yesterday?"

"I know... I was worried okay? She came with me though. Then I left. Under a blazing row. God I feel terrible, but it wasn't my fault." He said, looking blankly at the square. "Oh good, that was from my letter I take it? He didn't get any sympathy from Bilbo, did he?"

"From what I could see, Bilbo was setting him straight. And mother loves you. She really does. She misses and worried about you." Fili said gently, squeezing Kili's shoulder. "She knows about you being in Mirwood."

"She... doesn't mind about the row?" he asked, curling in on himself. "How much does she know about Thranduil and me? What will she say about Thranduil and I being together?!"

"Who do you think set Thorin straight before Bilbo?" Fili quirked a brow with a smile. "She just worries for you. She's over the row. She knows that you're happy and I think that's all she cares about."

"You have a valid point there. but I generally assumed it was you. Is she coming to the party? Did she say anything?" he babbled, looking slightly pale.

"She hasn't decided that yet...she has some matters to attend to in the blue mountains. But she's happy for you, she's said so. Just keep your mind on something else for now." Fili smiled gently, resting his chin on Kili's head.

"Okay... I think I'll send her a letter anyway. I don't know, it would make me feel better." he murmured into fili's side. "Elrond should be arriving soon anyway."

With that statement, a horn blew to signal the gates to open, and dark haired Elves began ride into the palace grounds as crowd gathered. Leading them was Lord Elrond, atop his magnificent stallion, with Arwen and Lindir joint behind him. Behind them were five other pairs of Elrond's kin.

Oh bugger. Where the hell is Legolas when you need him?! Kili thought, getting up from his seat to walk slowly towards the crowds, craning his neck to look for the two Elf princes.

"Looking for something?" A voice chuckled from behind the two dwarves. Turning around Kili saw Legolas with a Falaroy resting on his hip. "Come on you two, let's go say hello to the leaf-freaks."

Lord Elrond dismounted his horse expertly, leading it by the reins. "Prince Legolas." He said politely, nodding in greeting. "Nae saian luume'. Where is king Thranduil?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Heh... Well that's a long story. One my friend here should be able to explain in a bit. The short version is that he's a bit paralysed to do anything right now and is sleeping it off." Legolas said, making a gesture towards Kili.

Elrond kept his eyebrow raised as he looked down at Kili, before emitting a sigh and face-palming gently. "Spiders?" He muttered wearily.

"Not any more." Kili smirked, tilting his head to the side.

"Spiders. There's more out there, but the ones that got my father aren't any more." Legolas explained, rolling his eyes and put Falaroy down, only to run to Fili, who sighed and picked him back up.

"Take me to him. Pe-channas." Elrond sighed, handing the horse's reins to the stable boy. "I may be able to improve the situation. Then, Legolas, you can fill me in on the Dwarf...thing." He grinned broadly, gesturing toward the two.

"Kili, fancy taking him to the king while I show everyone to their rooms?" Legolas asked, looking down at the dwarf.

"Uh.. sure? Fili, do you want to help Legolas? Right. This way Mister Elrond." He said, watching Fili nod his agreement and walked through the crowds.

-oOo-

Sorry I left it so long guys.

I Don't even have a reason why I left it, only that I am so lazy that it's unbelievable. The chapters are written far beyond this with ommakes, but I haven't had the will to get off of the sofa or do anything but make cosplays...

So I am actually sorry for that, but heh 9 DAYS UNTIL DESOLATION!

Thanks for reading and waiting,

Tanith and Tam.