Fili rolled his eyes at the memory, since then Kili had a fascination with the beads. He could never resist the urge to fiddle with them, Fili finished the last braid.

"I'll need that clasp now."

Kili didn't answer. Fili leaned through the bars, seeing his younger brother had fallen asleep against the cell door. The blonde smiled, it was so Kili to only feel safe enough to sleep in the company of his closet friend and brother. Unfortunately this now ment that, Fili couldn't reach the last clasp, which was tucked in to the brunette's fingers. Fili glanced at Tauriel, who was still standing with her back to them. He loathed to ask but...

"Elf?"

Tauriel turned, shocked at the call. "Yes, dwarf?"

Fili gritted his teeth, he heard Thorin huffing nextdoor, "Could you get that clasp please? Its in his hand."

Tauriel nodded, moving lightly towards the brothers. She lightly tugged at Kili fingers, surprisingly gentle. Slowly, as to wake him, Tauriel slipped the bead from his grasp, placing it carefully in to Fili's hand. Curling his fingers around it, Fili grunted his thanks. He recognised the bead itself, it was the first one he had ever got, the one he stole from Thorin the first time. After slipping the bead on, Fili sat on the rough stone floor, leaning his head on Kili's back through the bars. Slowly but surely, the blonde prince slipped in to blissful sleep.

Tauriel looked at the two brothers in wonder. In looks so opposite, but in love and devotion they were linked in such a way, Tauriel would never understand. Kili twitch slightly, hand falling to the floor by the cell bars. Fili turned in distress, his own hand falling to clasp his brother's. Both the Durin princes sighed, identically, happy to be in each others company.

"They've always been like that."

Tauriel turned to see Thorin Oakenshield watching her carefully. "Pardon me, my lord?"

Thorin raised his eyebrows at the title, but answer the question, "They sleep together; eat together; play together and unfortunately, prank together. They've never been apart since the death of their father." He eyed her suspiciously, "I don't know why I'm telling you this."

Tauriel looked back at the siblings, they had turned to face each other now, hands clasped together as if even sleep couldn't break them apart. Thorin coughed for attention, motioning her towards him with a finger. The elf came to the bars cautiously, yelping as Thorin pulled her closer by the tunic front until their faces were inches apart.

"You look after him." Thorin spat in her face, "You make sure hes alright and Thranduil doesn't bully him or hurt him in anyway. He is reckless so look out, he seems very taken by you."

Tauriel tried to object but Thorin twisted his grip on her clothes,

"Do I have your word that you will look after him? Do I?"

"Yes, sire," Tauriel gasped, back aching from bending to the dwarf's height.

Thorin grunted, letting go of the elf. He slunk back in to the shadows of his cell. Tauriel took a moment to straighten her tunic, turning back to the younger princes.

Voices came from the hall as someone came across the relived guards, Tauriel recognised the Mirkwood princes voice. She hurried over to the sleeping forms, shaking the darker one. Kili groaned, flapping his arm at the elf.

"Kili! We have to go!" She hissed, shaking him harder. Now Fili was awake and glaring, Kili opened his eyes an inch,

"What do you want, Tauriel? I'm sleeping!"

"Kili! The prince is coming! If he sees you, we'll both be in trouble." Tauriel forced the sleepy dwarf to his feet, tugging him along the opposite path to the voices.

"Fili! I'll see you again soon!" Kili whispered, realising how serious the situation is.

They almost got back. But of course, almost was never good enough.

"Where are you going?" came the sharp voice.

Tauriel froze, Kili twisting in her grip to look at the prince. "I was taking the Half-ling for some air. He was feeling cramped." she said, not turning round.

Kili frown, confused at the use of 'halfling'. Legolas was watching him with his icy eyes, logging every twitch of the young dwarf in his eternal memory.

"Be quick, Thranduil wants to see the mutant before he retires to bed."

Tauriel nods and turns down an unknown corridor, speeding up slightly.

"Where are we going?" Kili stumbled, trying to keep up with the long strides of the elf beside him.

Tauriel didn't answer, breaking in to a run.

After a dizzying sprint up wooden alleys, they arrived at a balcony. Kili gasped. The view was incredible. The tips of the trees glowed in the dying light of the setting sun, the leaves turning gold like melted metal. The wind blow, rippling the trees like the sea.

Kili looked over the side, down to the canopy of the tall trees far below him.

"Woah..." he reeled back from the edge, clutching his stomach, "Thats too high. Too high."

"I came here all the time. After my duties are finished of course." Tauriel sat on the small bench near the edge of the balcony. Kili started forward, reaching to stop Tauriel falling off the edge. "Are you alright, master Kili?"

"I don't like heights." Kili said, still clutching his chest tightly.

Tauriel frowned, "I would have thought the elven side of you would be alright with heights."

Kili froze. Elven side? He thought, What elven side? "What are you talking about? What so you mean, elf?"

"You mean, you not...? Oh Aüle!" Tauriel stood up, hands flying to his face. "The king thinks...! Oh no!"

"What is wrong?"

"The King thinks that you are only half dwarf." Tauriel let out a breath, "Thats why hes been so nice to you!"

"He thinks that I am an elf? Why would you think that?" Kili said, hands brushing his face.

"Well," she looked uncomfortable, "you don't have the normal build of a dwarf. And you don't have a beard." she squeaked.

Kili slouched, which was his version of the straighting up, scratching at his stubble. "I have a beard! Well, mostly."

Tauriel giggled quietly, Kili glared at her, "That's not funny! A dwarfs hair and beard is his pride! I am ashamed to not have one!"

Tauriel tried to keep a straight face, "We'd better go back to your room. The king will want to see you."

"Can we stay here a bit?" Kili settled on the bench when Tauriel nodded, "Will you tell him? About me?"

"No, of course not!"

"Thank you."

Enjoy!