Dwarves, Tauriel muses, are very strange creatures. They take baths, quick baths but still baths, in family groups, possibly to protect the nature of their Marks. They are extremely possessive of what and those they call their own, they hate green food and Elves and hide their emotions unless they are with family, their ones or they are Kíli, Kíli shows his emotions always. She sees Thorin touch his chest and another thought comes to her, how does one see their Mark through what must be thick chest hair? Part of her wishes that Legolas was traveling with her, so she could have someone other than Kíli and the crass hatted Dwarf to talk to, the hatted Dwarf told her his name but so had all the others at nearly the same time and it hurt her head to try and remember them all. However King Thranduil had made it clear that Legolas had Princely Duties he had to attend to, or if you're fluent in Thranduilese, I don't want my son traveling with Dwarves just in case his Other is one of them. Without a thought her hand travels to her own Mark and she smiles, she can't wait to see her Other again.

They reach Beorn's quickly and she comes face to face with the Skin Changer. She had seen the man fight during the Battle and respected the man… err bear… It's a new experience for her to have to look up to see the face of the person speaking to her. Beorn glares at the Dwarves as if the slaughtered his family, she fights back a guilty flinch at the thought, Dwarves no; Orcs yes and Elves did nothing to help.

"You made Bunny cry," the large man rumbles and the Dwarf king looks ashamed for a moment.

"We were both lied to," Thorin says as if it explains everything. Beorn snorts a bit at the Dwarf.

"Uncle is going to say sorry!"

She almost laughs at the quick almost puppy like way Kíli speaks. Beorn does laugh and smile affectionately.

"Good. I will once again open my home to you and yours, for the same price."

The hatted Dwarf, the one who found the athelas that had saved Kíli's life, steps up a wide smile on his face. She doesn't listen to the tale the Dwarf spins instead she goes to stand by Kíli. His golden haired brother glares at her when Kíli isn't looking, it unnerves her. She hadn't done anything to warrant the glare. Ignoring it for the time being she engages Kíli in a conversation on archery, one they had started earlier. A booming laugh makes her look up, Beorn is laughing, the hatted dwarf, Bifor, Borif, Bofur, is smiling and Thorin is looking relaxed if embarrassed as she's ever seen him be. She looks back at Kíli and is surprised by the look of adoration on the brunettes face and the look of pain and hurt on the blonds.

It hits her then and she's almost ashamed that is took her this long. She can just imagine the ribbing Legolas would give her if he was here. Her mind drags up the conversation that she had with him in Bard's home as she healed him. She is far away. Sh- She is far, far away from me, and walks in starlight in another world. It was just a dream. Do you think she could have loved me? She had grabbed his hand and smiled. If she had not meet and fallen in love with her Other than yes she could see herself loving the Markless Dwarf. Because surely he is Markless if he had asked her if she could have loved him. Part of her was sure the question was brought on by the Morgul Blades poison, if he had been human or even Elven he would have turned into a Wraith if he survived, and he'd forget about it. Apparently not, his brother must feel betrayed by his crush on her.

Dwarves!

Later that night, after she is sure that all the Dwarves are a sleep Tauriel goes to make use of Beorn's connected Bath House. He had warned them not to venture out of the house after dark, no matter what they heard. The Dwarves had just smiled as if hearing an inside joke and nodded. Their host hadn't reacted much to her being there, just a curious look and a smile, though he had made sure to include her in his occasional ribbing. She shakes her head, stripping out of her clothes and wrapping a towel around her middle, enjoying the subtle heat seeping into the changing room from the actual bathing room. A nice warm bath after many cold river baths will be just the ticket to help her figure out how to tell Kíli that while she's flattered she has an Other.

That train of thought dies as she steps into, half way removing her towel, and catches sight of the blond Prince soaking in the water. Is he the exception or do all Dwarves have so little chest hair? They both freeze for a moment before the Prince jolts into action. She expects to be yelled at, commanded to leave but instead he sinks lower into the water drawing his knees up to his chest trying in vain to prevent her from seeing his Mark, a notched bow resting on its quiver. It almost looks like a mountain. Calmly she rewraps the towel around her, used to bathing with the opposite gender while on the watch. If he is not going to object to her being here with him, than she shall stay and bathe. Face red she watches him try to move from his spot without showing his mark. Is he ashamed of his Elvish Mark? He sees her staring curiously at his chest and shrinks even more.

"Most people assume we Dwarrows want nothing to do with archery. That's not true. To have eyes good enough to be an archer is a blessing," he speaks softly. Dwarrows what on Middle Earth… Ah it is what they call themselves the proper word.

"Then why hide your Mark?"

"Marks are personal. Only family and your One may see it. To show it off is… taboo, indecent," his eyes dart up to her cheek then back to the water. As she sinks below the water, holding up her towel as she does so, he flees bidding her a quick goodnight.

Yes, Dwarv… Dwarrows are very off creatures.

AN:

If your curious about anything in this world just let me know. I have where, what happens to and what each of the man three races call there Marks. I also have a few Marks written along with a few questions of my own... Who here likes how I write Lobelia? Cause I love her and I want to play around with the idea of a threesome with her, Dis and Vili.