Hi guys, sorry for the later update, I am hooked on Daredevil and comepletely forgot to update sooner! Here you have the next chapter! Enjoy! (I've decided to not include any smut in this story. Maybe another story!)

Tauriel ran after the prince with an incredible, by adrenaline heightened, speed. This was so awkward! Especially for Legolas she imagined, for he had just seen his best friend and father make out in a freaking bath. She blushed when she thought back to the king's searing kisses and touches. Quickly she caught up to her friend who had turned around and eyed her funnily. She had to catch her breath for a moment before she blurted out a long apology.

"Legolas! I am so sorry seriously! That was never meant to– to be witnessed…" she coughed nervously, swallowing the last word. "I mean you weren't meant to walk in. It was never meant to happen. Why did you– I mean, sorry!"

When she looked up hopefully she saw that the prince was trying very hard not to laugh. On the one hand this made her sigh in relief; luckily he wasn't angry. On the other hand this made her angry instead.

"Mandos' Halls! Why are you laughing! This isn't funny, Legolas!" She screamed impatiently, hitting Legolas on his arm.

He dodged her touch, still chuckling.

"Hey! Don't touch me! You're dripping wet!" He laughed when he saw Tauriel's furious expression.
"Don't ruin my glamorous robes, Captain. Please." At this Tauriel started smiling too. "I mean – of course, I was already naked so actually there was nothing to ruin anymore, but..."

He couldn't continue his impersonation because he was laughing so hard. Tauriel tried to stay angry for a while longer, but found it futile. The prince was simply too good at his Thranduil imitation. She was once again glad for their friendship. Weren't it for Legolas great humour they wouldn't have been friends for ages. He always saw the positive side in… unexpected situations like this one. Never once accusing her of treachery or betrayal of their friendship. They laughed until their tearstained faces dried and their stomachs ached from exertion.

"You know I only came in there to tell my father that you fought well today?" Legolas suddenly said.

Tauriel smiled smartly at that, raising one elegant eyebrow.

"I think he thought I did more than well today, to be honest."

This time it was Legolas' time to scowl.

"Aaargh, don't remind me please. My eyes still burn. Give an elf his well-deserved time."

They chuckled again, leaning against the wall of the darkening hallway. It must be getting late. Exchanging casual conversation Tauriel suddenly jerked up. She hit her fist on the wall, cursing loudly, causing Legolas to jump up and away from her attacking arms.

"What the–" "LEGOLAS! I still need to check up on the dwarves! I need to wash myself too! And my present! Thranduil gave me a present! It is the Feast of Starlight tonight!"

She sprinted away before she even finished her last sentence, voice going up as she ran further away, shouting the last part over her shoulder to a stunned Legolas who shook his head amusedly.

Tauriel, after freshening up in her room as fast as she could, darted down the stairs towards the Kingdom's dungeons. Their only occupants were the dwarves at the moment. She walked past the cells quietly, checking the prisoners and locks. All shut and secure. Obviously. A check-up was still needed, plus, she was a Captain but also still a guard. It was now her watch duty, she would be relieved from her post just before midnight. Then she could go up and finally join the king.

The king. She swallowed nervously, her stomach fluttering in response. Their make-out session was definitely the hottest she'd ever had. Even though he was drunk… Tauriel paused her circling for a moment. Drunk. The king would still be drunk, or hungover, at the feast tonight wouldn't he? She sighed and put her fingers on the bridge of her nose. Ugh.

"Having trouble remembering your way out of this mess?"

She looked up in surprise, she hadn't realised she had paused before the cell of the tall dwarf. Kili.

"No, I don't actually." She replied dryly.

Kili tossed his stone into the air once again, catching it with practiced ease. The glimmering stone caught the Captain's attention, momentarily distracting her from her worries and infatuated feelings. She had asked the dwarf about the curious stone before she knew it.

"It is a talisman." Kili immediately replied, stopping his throw-and-catch game to walk up to the bars. She didn't understand, a talisman. This could be interesting. "A powerful spell lies upon it, if any but a dwarf reads the runes on this stone..." He shook his head, laughing quietly. "they will be forever cursed."

Holy shit on a stick. Tauriel took a step back, this was too creepy, even for her doing. Attempting to leave she heard his voice continue softly, causing her to linger.

"Or not. Depending on whether you believe in that kind of thing. It's just a token." The dwarf chuckled again, glad to have her attention back again.

She couldn't help but smile. This was the kind of dark humour Legolas would try on her. She found she liked the dwarf even though he profoundly confused her too.

"A Rune Stone. My mother gave me it to me so I'd remember my promise."

"What promise?"

"That I would come back to her. She worries. She thinks I'm reckless." The dwarf looked at the stone sorrowfully, turning it back and forth in his hand. Stroking the carved symbols with love.

"Are you?" Tauriel asked, referring to his last confession.

"Nah." He tossed up his stone again, but this time failing to catch it. The token fell down, clattering on the stone outside the cell. Tauriel used her quick reflexes to stop the stone from falling down into the depths. Karma. She wanted to make a snarky comment but was diverted to the wonderful talisman under her feet. It was beautiful. Dark and mysterious. Not unlike her date for the night, she thought with a giddy sensitivity as her thought darted back to his hungry dark eyes. She picked it up carefully to examine it more closely, pushing Thranduil to the back of her mind for the time being.

A crowd erupted in cheers above them. They both looked up. It must have started, Tauriel thought enviously.

"Sounds like quite a party you're having up there." The dwarf commented curiously.

"It is Mereth Nuin Giliath;" She explained equally as pleasant. "The Feast of Starlight. All light is sacred to the Eldar, but the Wood Elves love best the light of the stars."

The dwarf looked up again, through his bars. Vertical shadows reflected on his face.

"I always thought it is a cold light, remote and far away."

"It is memory, precious and pure. Like your promise."

They looked at each other for a moment. He truly was quite handsome. For a dwarf. Dark eyes, dark hair, a rough – though quite short – beard. It was clear in the dwarf's behaviour that he liked her. A lot. At least more than an ordinary dwarf-elf relationship would normally allow. She found she liked him too, despite the non-too subtle brainwashing of the king and prince. Kili was actually a good talk and seemed sweet. However, she couldn't help comparing him to the King. Kili was almost the perfect opposite of Thranduil. Kili was the sun: warm, loving and open to all. Thranduil like the moon: mysterious and infinite in his ethereal light. Committing and adapting to each situation like the different phases and only for some showing his whole side. Waxing and waning whenever the situation permits it and exactly how it fits him best. Some call it selfish, shallow or reserved. She called it a personality that served generally useful. Like the moon, her king has a dark side he rather doesn't show to the world just yet. He simply cannot. She had begun her journey to his dark side of moon, getting continuous glimpses of the true elf beneath. But only the stars can see behind his mask of indifference. Tauriel hoped that one day she could be that one star, circling round the celestial being and finally seeing the real Thranduil. She sighed. That was such a deep line of poetic reasoning, she had to write it down!

She returns the stone to Kili, thinking back to her kiss earlier that day with the king. Her eyes reached up as if focusing on the moon.

"I have walked there sometimes, beyond the forest and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away and the white light of forever fill the air." She thought about the king's intoxicating smell surrounding her as he sucked the sensitive skin of her neck. His hair tickling against her cheeks and nose. Time seemed irrelevant then.

"You talk about the moon as if you know him in person." Kili asked absentmindedly, interrupting her thoughts.

"I do indeed." She replied matter-of-factly, sitting down comfortably next to his cell. "He is my date for the night actually."

Kili tensed up for a moment, not expecting that answer, before he relaxed again.

"Is the moon a nice fellow?"

"Sometimes." She replied with a smile.

"If he isn't tonight you must come to me immediately. I will extinguish that moon forever." He jested.

She laughed at that. "Really? I don't think you will be glad you did afterwards. The moon is an important presence, you know, he will be greatly missed by many. Without the moon the world will collapse."

Kili smiled cheekily, looking up defiantly.

"An important elf, he is then? Still he can never be worthy of you!"

Tauriel smiled, blushing a bit at his revealing statement.

"You only deserve kings and queens, my lady, nothing less."

At this she laughed out loud.

"You know nothing, Kili." She chuckled again, this time softer to avoid waking up the other presumably sleeping dwarfs.

"I saw a fire moon once," Kili suddenly said. "talking about impressive moons. It rose over the pass near Dunland. Huge!"

Tauriel smiled at his enthusiasm. The sounds of the feast pushed back to the back of her mind. Thranduil however, still fresh in. She listens to his story.

"Red and gold it was, it filled the sky. We were an escort for some merchants from Ered Luin, they were trading in silverwork for furs. We took the Greenway south, keeping the mountain to our left, and then it appeared. This huge fire moon lighting our path. I wish I could show you..."

"Tauriel!"

She looked up and saw her friend on a level above overseeing the cells. He waved at her, signalling for her to come up.

"You are late, Tauriel! It has been past midnight for ages! Come on!"

Oh no! She had completely forgotten the time! Kili glared at the elf with jealousy and Tauriel smiled apologetically, thanking him for the story and conversation anyway. She got a warm smile from the dwarf in return. After that she ran up to Legolas, tossing the keys over to the approaching guard who would take over for the rest of the night. They high-fived and chattered all the way up to her room.

"I'll wait here for you so I can escort you, Ma'am." He bowed elegantly.

Tauriel laughed, but ran inside quickly to open her present.

Thanks for reading! You are the best! *high fives* Next chapter: THE FEAST hehehehe

And does someone notice the little references in the story? I am not putting them in for no one to notice them! ^^