Chapter XXVI

12th Narabeleth 3002 T.A

Kili left Erebor earlier than he planned but he felt like he was needed in Dale or he was missing out on something. He arrived just before mid-morning and the Citadel was in its usual morning hurry and there were more guards around the entrance then when he visited last.

"Prince Kili." Brand greeted the young dwarf. "We did not expect you so early."

"I was in a rush this morning and did not realize I have left so early." He glanced around and saw more guards inside "Is it me or is there more guards?"

"We had a break in a few nights ago and some records were looked at." Brand was so blasé about it all "But the stupid girl fell asleep and got arrested the next morning. We are taking extra precaution as she seemed to have sneaked through without any trouble." Kili brushed it off as just common troubles as it did not concern him. "Please make yourself at home, I have some dealings to do with Alick and a few of his merchants and Hain should be here somewhere." He bowed his head and went outside to continue his day.

Kili went up the stairs and tried looking for his nephew, he searched the kitchen area and then his bedroom but finally found him in the Bowman wing looking out the window.

"Hain, I have some news from your father." Hain turned around and faced his dwarvish uncle.

"Welcome back uncle. What news?"

"Just that you are expected home any time but preferably 2 weeks before the celebration as you have to go over royal proceedings. Fili will actually be hear next week maybe or the week after, just to speak with Bain and-" Kili got sidetracked by the books that were open on the desk.

The Elvish Guard of Mirkwood. 2941

Captain: Tauriel

Banished by King Thranduil.

Tauriel. A name he had thought about in a long time.

"These were the documents that were read by the intruder the other night. I am trying to piece together what is the importance of them." Kili was at a loss for words. "Records of Dale and Lake Town were also read from the same time period of the Battle of the Five Armies. The girl will not talk and we are concern she might be a spy or something along the lines."

Kili was curious as to why information of Tauriel was needed but forgot about it as quickly as it entered his mind. "Well I will let you get back to that and we will talk later." They gave a brotherly hug and Kili walked out the door "Hain, if you figure anything out, I am curious to know."

Kili walked around the Citadel distracted by his thoughts that have not arose for several years. He still thought about Tauriel every now and again but these thoughts of what ifs and how their relationship could survive and how it would be accepted, but now none of it ever mattered Tauriel was dead.

"Prince Kili, Prince Brand sent me a message to inform you that he will meet in the guard room dungeons." Kili gave the messenger thanks and proceeded to walk down towards the dungeons.

He walked down the stones steps until he reached the Jailor.

"Prince Kili here to meet with Prince Brand." The jailor nodded and unlocked the door that stood behind him. Kili was standing on the top level and below him were the jail cells that held Dale's criminal wanted, the prisoners in here were usually the ones needed for questioning or have committed serious crimes to be lock in this secure prison. The young dwarf prince had to walk pass the torture and questioning room where one prisoner was shackled to the wall by the wrists. Her long brown hair covered her face and she looked limp against the wall, the smell of blood made his stomach churn and continued down the hall.

The guard room was occupied by several tables and chairs, weapon racks that took up the space on the wall and several chests of evidence and prisoner belongings. He look down at the table and saw a map of middle earth with various locations marked, a few daggers and coin pouches which were probably used in wagers against the prisoners. "Sorry I made you wait Kili seems the marketplace is in a bit of an uproar this morning." Brand came in followed his son, Bard II and Hain as well as two guards. Brand dismissed the guards to put the prisoner in next room back in her cell. "The girl is strong, I'll give her that." Brand was one for equal justice and fair trials but the young girl was full of lies and her story did not make sense which led to far harsher techniques.

They watched as they dragged the girl pass the door and presumably back to her cell. "The men will catalogue her belongings and then we will get into our business." Hain and Bard where in a heated discussion about archery skills and Brand was overlooking criminal records and missing persons, while Kili was quiet, thinking about the girl and why she was looking over records about Tauriel and the Battle.

The guards came back and pulled out a leather knapsack along with a black hood. One took a note pad and a quill and ink and began to write. Kili watched from across the table.

Prisoner #63 Prison Cell #5

One large black hood.

Elven Ebony bow

Twelve steel arrows

One leather Knapsack.

One journal belonging to Eliel Nirn with writing esstentials

"Go through that journal, might give us some clue to who and what she is after you're finished." Brand interrupted

Three hard covered books

Large coin purse

Pouch of jewels

"A thief most likely."

Pouch of flowers

A set of clothes

One rune stone

All the belongings were laid out on the table when Kili recognized the rune stone. "Pass me that stone." He urged.

"It cannot be" Kili was certain this was his stone. The one his mother passed down to him and the one he lost when he lost Tauriel.

"Uncle what is it?" Hain asked, everybody was curious as to why he was so intrigued by this stone. "The prisoner? Can I speak with her?"

"Escort him down to cell 5" Brand instructed. Kili could not wait for the guard and he rushed down the damp steps to find the owner of this stone. When he reached the cell the girl was sitting against the back corner with her head slouched on her knees. The cell was not much, a tiny stone square with just enough room to fit one person and a chair. All they prisoners had to sleep on was a pile of hay and a large animal skin but it was most likely damp from the water dripping through the small barred window, squalid conditions for such a profound society.

"Where did you get this stone?" The dwarf approached the rusted bars. The young girl took effort to lift her head to meet his eyes, the darkness of the cell hid any features of hers and he could not tell what she looked like. "Where did you get this stone?" He pushed for an answer. She tried to get up and it took several moments before she stood unsteadily on both feet, the limped towards the glow of the candles.

"It was my mother's." She had reached the bars and leaned on them to support her weak frame, she glanced up and look him in his eyes.

Kili had looked past the swollen purple skin and could barely see the familiar eye colour. That pool of mossy green with flecks of brown. "This is unmistakably my stone and I lost it many years ago, my mother gave it to me and then I gave it to someone very special to me. Where did you get it?"

The young girl who was no older 19 years looked defeated but determined. "Please you do not understand, this is my stone my mother gave it to me when she died. It belonged to my birth mother." Tears began to fill her eyes and it highlighted the black circles under them.

"Uncle Kili what have you found out?" The young girl raised her head at the question. Kili did not break eye contact with the prisoner when he replied to his nephew. "Nothing. I will return to find out how you got this rune stone." He mildly threatened the girl a placed the stone into his pocket and walked away from the oddly familiar prisoner.