Kili peeked out from behind the bath screen. No sign of Tauriel.
He had just finished a perfect bath, though he would never admit it. His old and dirty clothes had disappeared, left behind were some silvery elven clothes in a neat pile. Kili picked up the silky fabric between two fingers, sniffing it. It galled him to think that someone, probably Tauriel, had come in while he was bathing. He sliped the slippery material over his head, it fell to just above his knees. Fingering the thin fabric, Kili couldn't help but marvel at the quality. It was as silver as starlight, emerald green weaved in to the short sleeves, which flopped around just above his elbows. The collar was the dark brown of wood bark, uncomfortably loose. The breeches were the green-brown of autumn leaves, fitting him perfectly. Where they had found the measurement for a dwarf, and a tall, thin one at that, Kili did not know but did not dwell on the topic. They had left him his boots, thankfully, but his sword belt and bow had been replaced with a brown leather belt, that looked and felt like oaken bark. A strip of leather fell part way down his leg, obviously supposed to house a sword, flapped uselessly from the belt. he sighed, hating himself for agreeing that the elven clothes were more comfortable then most stiff dwarven tunics.
Kili crossed to the bed, perching on the edge of the annoyingly comfortable mattress. The room wasn't that large and obviously wasn't supposed to be lived in long, but it was beautiful. There was an obvious theme in the whole kingdom: Trees. And wood. Delicate carvings decorated the celling, the swirling patterns melting in to candle holders, making light play through the room.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in!" Kili called.
Tauriel came in and bowed, "Thranduil wants you to attend dinner with the lords." She handed him a small flat box, "He wants you to wear this, its an antique. From Erebor I think."
"From Erebor?"
"I believe it was the young prince's."
Kili blanched, thinking of Thorins younger brother, Frerin, who had been killed in the Battle of Azanulbizar. He slipped the lid, and gasped. A shining, glittering circlet was placed in the blue velvet. It was of gleaming platinum. The pattern was typical of dwarish fashion, with the crest of the youngest prince, one that probably not be king, set in to the back. The front was embedded with diamonds and sapphire, dipping at the brow with a hanging white gem. Kili reached in a hand, picking up the amazing jewelry. It was surprisingly light, he bounced it slightly on his hand.
"I've never worn one of this before." he said with a breathy laugh.
"Here let me." Tauriel took the circlet, kneeling down to Kili's level. She placed in to his brown locks, brushing the spare hair behind his ear. "You wash up well."
Kili raised his eyebrows, Tauriel cleared her throat slightly, then spun the dwarf around, "It would sit better with out your hair clasp."
Kili yelped as she tugged at the hair braid, "Woah! Oh no you don't!" He turned slapping her hands away. "A dwarf's hair is his pride! Only family members can change it!"
Tauriel stood up, shocked and hurt. "Sorry, I didn't know." she flustered, coughing again, "Umm... If you don't mind me asking, What does that symbol on the clasp mean? Just its the same as the one of the circlet."
Kili supposed that was an alright question to answer. "It my symbol, the symbol of the youngest heir. It means that I'm not going to be king but am royal. All young princes have the same one, so I have the the same as uncle Frerin. Fili has the crown prince symbol."
Tauriel was listening avidly, "I was never told that dwarf inheritance was so confusing."
Kili smiled, glad some one cared what he said.
"Oh!" Tauriel gasped, "We have to get down to dinner!"
Tauriel lead him down the corridor outside, Kili remembered the alleys, adding them to his mental map.
"Tauriel?" he asked, "What do I do? I've never been to a elven dinner before!"
"Don't worry, its easy. Just sit down and speak only when your spoken to." Tauriel pushed open the door and pushed him forward.
I do like Frerin and hope to put him in a bit more as memories! Kili's touchiness about his hair is not made up by me, it is in the appendices at the back of Lord Of The Rings if you, like me, have ever had the patience to read them!
Enjoy!