AU: Something I forgot to add earlier about selkies is that, according to selkie stories, romance is part of their culture. So, if you're wondering what's going on with Rae, she's just acting normal. It's not quite normal for Kili, however…
I also forgot to add that, in most selkie stories, the selkies are girls, but occasionally there is a selkie man as well. Those stories are just less common.

Bofur watched as Fili and Thorin ran from the tavern after their quiet conversation in the corner, and though he wasn't normally one to pry, it made him curious what had suddenly worried them so. It wasn't like either Thorin or Fili to run off in the middle of a meal, not that Fili had even had his breakfast yet. And where was Kili? He'd never even come downstairs, had he? Surely Thorin would be mad about that, but he'd gone outside, not up to the rooms.

"Ey, Bofur!" Nori called his attention back to the present, "Why the long face? We can sell tomorrow, our money's sure to hold out long enough!"

"And we know who can solve our problems if it doesn't," Vufur laughed, raising his eyebrows at Nori, who rolled his eyes.

Vufur and Bofur had become friends long ago, partly because of their similar tastes in fun, partly because they were both tinkers of sorts, and partly because their names were so similar and they were the type to find enjoyment in such simple happenstances.

"Aye, we know alright, Nori," Bofur grinned. He spared one more glance at the door where the leader of their group had disappeared with his nephew, but then shook his head, forgetting about it.

The one other dwarf at the table, Lesur, sat next to Nori, and he too grinned about Nori's tendencies, perhaps because they were similar to his own.

"I could help you out there," Lesur told Nori, and Bofur's grin faltered only a little.

"I'm sure you could," Bofur half muttered. He wasn't sure why, but he'd never been too sure about Lesur. There wasn't anything specific that he could point out that might be giving him his uneasy feeling, but ever since the wayward dwarf had come to the Blue Mountains several years back, something had put off Bofur. Maybe it was as simple as the fact when Lesur came to the toy shop, things changed places and went missing, but that could occasionally happen when Nori showed up anywhere, and yet one couldn't help but like Nori's generally good natured personality. No, Bofur didn't know why he felt uneasy about Lesur when Bofur tended to like everybody. It was unreasonable.

"Bofur, you're quite in another world, aren't you?" Lesur again called Bofur back, who simply laughed.

"Oh yes, I may have left Middle Earth altogether," Bofur tried to joke, but it was lacking his usual vigor. The others didn't seem to notice, much to Bofur's relief.

"Hey!"

The dwarves turned to see Kili entering the room, a girl about their height, but not a dwarf, by his side. They both dripped with cold rain water, though neither seemed worse for wear and smiles lined each face. Bofur's jaw dropped.

"Why, you're no dwarf, and you're no human either!" he declared despite himself, "Oh, pardon me, I'm Bofur!"

"This is Rae!" Kili declared, and the girl blushed slightly.

"Hello," she smiled, "Kili said one of you is his uncle? I'm to meet him."

"Actually, my uncle doesn't seem to be here, but I'll introduce you to the rest of my group! That's Nori, Vufur, and Lesur!" Kili grinned, seeming overly proud of himself. "Where's Uncle Thorin and Fili?"

"They went running off, can't say where," Bofur shrugged, "Somewhere in town, I guess. Kili, mind if I talk to you for a moment?"

Kili shrugged indifferently, though he didn't seem to particularly want to part with Rae. Considering, Bofur understood, but Bofur wondered if Kili knew who he had met.

"Kili, you do know that is a selkie, right?" Bofur asked plainly, the minute they were out of earshot, and Kili rolled his eyes.

"Of course, that's why I want to show Uncle! I don't know where she came from, but it's just like the tales!"

Just like the tales. That was not encouraging, considering some of the tales, but Bofur shook those thoughts away and replaced them with his awe and excitement.

"Aye, just like the tales of the fishermen we heard about. They both claimed to have seen 'em before, selkies that is, but I've never! Did you, you know, steal her pelt? Why'd you do it? I mean, it's just that I'd expect it more of, well other dwarves."

"Steal her what?" Kili looked rather confused, "I didn't steal anything! She was in the inn this morning and said she was lost. I took her around town, and she says she's not sure how to get home. At first we thought Uncle could help, but she doesn't seem as ready to leave now, not that I know where she'll go if she doesn't go home. Bofur, you alright?"

Bofur shook his head, clearing his thoughts and pasting a smile on his face, "Oh, I'm fine lad, I just don't understand. You didn't go down to the beach and take it? Then what is she doing here?"

"Take what?" Kili asked, all innocence, and Bofur raised his eyebrows.

"Have you really never heard tell of the legends of selkies? Granted, you seemed a bit confused the other night at the campfire, but I thought it was common dwarven knowledge. Your uncle and brother never told you the stories?"

"My uncle isn't really the story telling type," Kili shrugged helplessly.

"Oh," Bofur shrugged, "Well, they say that if someone takes a selkie pelt, the selkie has to stay on land until you give it back. It's also said that if you take a selkie pelt, the selkie will probably come and find you. So if you didn't take it, perhaps someone else in the inn?"

Kili shrugged. "I don't know," he admitted, "I didn't take anything. Does it really matter though? She's here now, what's it matter about the pelt?"

"Well," Bofur hesitated, "It matters if she wants to go home. She can't without her pelt. It's not my business, though, lad. I didn't take it, and I don't know who did! No matter, I'm going back to breakfast!"

With that, Bofur left Kili and sat back down, laughing with the others. Kili returned to stand next to Rae, wondering if she was missing the pelt Bofur seemed to think was so important. If she brought up home again, he could help her look for it, but he didn't see any reason to search if she didn't want to. If someone at the inn had taken it, it might only stir up trouble for himself to be looking for something stolen.

"I don't know where my uncle is," Kili said once he was again by Rae's side, "We could look around the village for him!"

"Alright," Rae smiled, slipping her hand into his.

Kili jumped with surprise, turning to stare at Rae in shock.

"Are you alright, Kili?" Rae asked, and Kili swallowed uneasily.

"Uh, yeah, I'm okay. Perhaps we should go now; go look for Uncle Thorin. Come on," Kili extracted his hand from hers, and hurried from the inn, though suddenly his hand felt very cold. When she caught up with him, he found himself again slipping his hand into hers. He couldn't quite explain it; he had hardly thought about it before he did it, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Once he realized he'd done it, he thought he should pull away again, but she didn't seem to mind in the least, so he didn't make any more fuss. He simply looked around for his uncle before Kili and Rae scurried out from under the tavern's awning and over to one of the stores.

Thorin and Fili searched through the village, Thorin's desperation to find his youngest nephew unnerving Fili much more than he'd realized it would. Of course, Fili could try to understand his uncle's reasoning, but still he seemed so very worried, that it only caused Fili to become much more anxious than before.

"Uncle," Fili spoke after they finished searching yet another shop, "How is finding them going to help, exactly? I mean, don't you think Kili would be confused if I just handed over the pelt to her?"

"Do you think it matters?" Thorin spun, "It is better confused than to wait until he gets too deeply mixed up in the whole thing. I don't want that for him; he doesn't need that. You don't understand, Fili, and I hope you never need to. He can't have gone too far, he must be in one of these shops here; keep your eyes open, Fili."

Fili nodded once before following his uncle, searching for his little brother's face.

Fili would never forget the first time he'd been to the shore. Things had been no different then than now: The whole town had talked of selkies and legends, and Fili had been (as any young dwarf would be) curious. Thorin had set him straight, though. Fili didn't understand why his uncle hadn't told the same story to Kili. Perhaps he had thought it wouldn't be a problem. Kili hadn't shown any interest to Thorin, if only Fili had spoken up before Kili had come back with the pelt. Why did Kili have to have such an affinity toward getting himself into trouble?

"Uncle!"

Thorin and Fili spun, both surprised to hear Kili's eager voice.

"We've been looking all over for you!" Kili continued, and Fili stood for a moment, open mouthed. There beside him stood the selkie, and Fili searched their faces as his eyes traveled down until he saw something that made his stomach drop.

Thorin, too, was wide eyed. He hadn't yet noticed what Fili had. Instead, he simply gaped, his face draining of color. For a moment, he looked more venerable than Kili had even seen him, and the young dwarf grew quite worried. Thorin's eyes traveled the pair, and then he too saw what his elder nephew had. Kili was not only standing far too close to the selkie, he was holding hands with the selkie!

And then Thorin's face turned a deep shade of red.

The waves lapped lazily on the shore. The rain tapped the ground creating puddles in shallow places, and dripping from the places that were higher. It was dreary and wet, and so no one had bothered to come to the shore. This was a gift, but it gave no answer to the quandary set before the lone person, surveying the area.

Last night had been just as stormy, if not much worse, and so he was left to wonder on what had happened.

'If no one was here now, why would there have been anyone here last night?'

The question remained unanswered, for how could he know now? But he would find out. The answer would not elude him forever.

He slipped over to a rock, glancing around just for safety's sake, and then he deposited his precious belonging.

She should have hidden hers as carefully. Then perhaps he wouldn't have to go on this fool-hearty mission. Of course, there was nothing to say that she hadn't left all on her own free well, but it was unlike her. No, someone must have taken it, and he'd find out who. He would find out who, and then he would help her return home. He would find his sister and whoever had dared to take her from her home.

Then, he slinked away into the drizzle of the morning, promising himself not to forget who he was, and where his own pelt was stashed.