Legolas knelt in front of his fathers throne, having just come back from securing the dwarven prince in the a cell far away from his brother.

The King flicked his finger, signaling his son to stand, "Well, this situation is embarrassing

Legolas cleared his throat, "I was thinking that maybe we could use this to our advantage."

Thranduil raised his eyebrows, "Go on,"

"Well, what if we convise the others that this one was dead, and visa versa. It would make them lose their confidence, break their spirit."

The king thought for a second, "How will we convise them?"

"Well, I have heard that there is one thing a dwarf wouldn't willingly part with."

"And what would that be?"

Legolas smiled, evilly, "His hair, my lord."

Thranduil smiled, "Of course."

Tauriel edged towards the door to the cell. She wasn't supposed to be here, she had been forbidden by the king but she must see him. She nodded at the guards, trying to look confident.

"I have come to see the dwarf." she said, daring the elf to argue.

"Dwarf-scum, you mean!" answered the elf at his post, moving to one side to let her pass.

Tauriel calmed her anger, "Thank you, Sveniline." She past him by, entering the cell.

Kili was slumped on the floor, a bruise swelling on his forehead. His hands were in chained above his head, which was hanging down, chin on chest. His formal clothing was ripped and dirty, belt missing along with one of his sleeves.

"Kili," she whispered, not wanting to be too loud.

He lifted his head, wincing at the loud noise. "Tauriel! What are you doing here?" he hissed back, chains clinking.

"I've come to see you!" she spoke louder.

"You will get in to trouble!"

Outside, Sveniline chortled, "She already is. Good evening, my lord."

Tauriel turned to see Legolas watching her, "Tauriel. You're not supposed to be here. Ego."

She bows slightly to her superior, but she waited just round the corner, she could hear Legolas and Sveniline talking. Cold horror griped her heart when she heard what they were planing to do. No they wouldn't dare! How horrid! She could hear Sveniline laughing, he had always like repulsive things. The clang of the cell door rang, then Kili's shouts, high and scared:

"What are you doing?...No you stay away! Don't you dare! Get off me! Get off!" The words became muffled as if through cloth.

There was the awful sound of ripping and the clink of chains, before Sveniline came back out the cell, holding something brown and silver. Legolas held out a small cloth bag in which went to brown bundle.

"Tauriel?"

For a moment Tauriel thought she had been rumbled, but then Legolas called again: "Tauriel come here please!"

She straightened her tunic, wiping the tears of angry from here eye before coming round the corner, "Yes, my lord?"

Legolas' eyes narrowed, "Could you stand guard on the scum?"

Tauriel's fury started bubble but she managed to incline her head to her prince. "Yes, my lord."

Legolas and Sveniline departed in the direction of the other cells, Tauriel took her place at the left of Kili's prison. She chanced a glance in, but once she had looked she couldn't look away from the pitiful sight before her. The youngest dwarven prince was shaking slightly, shoulders slumped. The manacles had been lowered to the floor so Kili could move his hands more freely. A strip of damp leather was tied around his mouth and behind his ears, Tauriel shuddered. The leather would dry and tighten, cutting in to the victims face; Sveniline would have done that, it was the kind of thing he would. But that wasn't the worst thing. Kili's hair was almost completely gone, the beautiful brown lock shawn to just above his ears. All his many magnificent clasps had been slipped from the hazel threads. His matching eyes were swimming with tears of shame, hands tugging at the shortened hair. The dwarf looked up to meet her eye but when Tauriel remained speechless, his head sagged back down to his chest.

"I'm so sorry." said the captain of the royal guard, though not knowing why she was apologising.

Kili didn't answer.

Yes I know that was mean! I was in a bad mood. I was imagining Kili's hair to be like Bain's, only slightly more raggied.

Enjoy!