"Are they gone?"

"Yes, sire."

"Good." Thranduil took a delicate bit of his apple, watching his heir from the corner of his eye. Legolas stood just behind his fathers chair, a respectful distance for a king when hes eating. "And the young one still here?"

"Of course, sire."

"Good," he said again, setting down the finished core of his apple. "I will see him later. Get him decent to be seen in the throne room."

Legolas bowed and left silently, Thranduil pushed his half-finished lunch away from him. All this excitement had rid him of his, usually large, appetite.

"Ladrengilwen!" he called and his hand maid come out from a side doo, bowing. She was a pretty soul, well suiting to her name, which meant valley of silver stars. She politely waited for Thranduil to speak, he took his time in getting up and turning. Ladrengilwen's mother had been killed by orcs many years ago in Gundabad, she had been the late queens hand maid. So at the event of her death, Ladrengilwen had inherited the honor of the job. "Could you get out my silver robe, I am meeting royalty for dinner." Thranduil didn't bother telling her the royalty in question was his prisoner.

Legolas met with Sveniline on the way to the dwarf's cell, Sveniline was fuming.

"Why do we have to see the scum?"

Pausing, Legolas looked at Sveniline, waiting for him to realise who he was talking too. The elf gulped, tilting his head in respect.

"My apologies, my lord. The dwarf infuriates me."

Legolas continued walking, "Be more professional."

"My lord."

The two elves rounded the corner to see Tauriel still posted at the door. She was talking a hushed voice to the prisoner, in a kind, southing tone. Next to him, Sveniline felt the prince stiffen.

"Tauriel?"

The red-head stood quickly, turning to face the wall, a red tinge creeping on to her freckled face. "My lord."

"We need to get the dwarf ready for an audience with the king." Legolas took the key from the hock on the wall, unlocking the cell. Kili was glaring at the prince, chowing at his gag. Sweeping in to the cell, Legolas unlocked the chain above the brunettes head. "Tauriel, come with us." he said, tossing the disgruntled dwarf to Sveniline who smiled evily.

The little party marched down the corridor, Legolas in front, Kili and Sveniline in the middle and Tauriel bringing up the rear. Sveniline was being unnecessarily nasty to the prince in his charge, tugging sharply on his chain when they went round a corner or holding it up to high for the small dwarf. Tauriel longed to take Kili away from this horrid elf but that would mean defying the orders of her prince. When a particularly sharp jerk sent Kili stumbling, Tauriel helped him up, holding his chain, tugging it out of Sveniline's grip,

"Let me take over, he would behave better with me." Tauriel said, looking to her prince. Legolas nodded and waved a hand, Sveniline almost pouted. After that they got to Kili's old room without incident, except Sveniline trying to trip the dwarf up.

Legolas stopped by the door, passing Tauriel the keys, "You two do what you can to make him presentable." he turned and left to find his father.

Sveniline leered at Tauriel, "You little suck-up! You're getting to attached to this scum." He kicked said scum in to the door which swung open, making him fall flat on his face.

"I would like to remind you that I out rank you as I am a captain." Tauriel said, drawing herself up. "I want you to wait out here to make sure he can't come out this way,"

Sveniline opened his mouth to argue but Tauriel had walked past him and closed the door.

"I am so sorry, Kili!" she said as she helped him to his feet and stripping him of his gag and manacles, "Are you alright?"

Kili exercised his jaw, "Yes, no thanks to you and Bilbo." he said, voice crackly from lack of use.

Tauriel rolled her eyes, "I have been telling you! If Fili knew you were alive, then you would be killed."

Kili rubbed his wrists, "I know, I know. But did you have to do it like that? My wrists are killing me!"

"You were making a lot of noise." Tauriel took him by the arm, "You need a wash." She wrinkled her nose, "You stink."

"Thank you, kind maidan." he said, sarcastically. "Now look away."

The elf turned, smile slipping from her face. She could see this sarcastic, cheerful Kili was just a front. Behind that, in the eyes was a dead sorrow and torment for a lost sibling that thought him dead. Tauriel kept tell herself she was doing the right thing but still...

She turned to the bed where clean clothes had been layed out for the dwarf, the same clothes as he was wearing only clean and whole but nowhere near the same quality. The sound of splashing could be heard from behind her and a sigh. Then a whimper. Before a sob.

"Kili?"

"What?" came the snappy, slightly choked response.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes." and he left it at that.

Before people start wondering, Kili is upset! He's just trying to hide it!

Also special thanks to Booksfoodmusic-minion, my dear friend!

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Enjoy!