Kili hadn't exactly been counting the days since he'd seen Tauriel, but if someone happened to remind him that it had been over 4 months, he was right to correct them and say it had actually been 4 months, three weeks, and 4 days. Nope, he hadn't been counting at all. And ever since Fili had told Kili that he would be returning to Mirkwood to speak of peace negotiations, he definitely hadn't been counting down the days since he'd seen her again. He just happened to know that if he continued at his current place, he'd reach the Elves homeland by day's end.

But he knew that despite his eagerness to see Tauriel again, this mainly a mission of diplomacy. He held no hatred for elves, but Kili had a bright temper that he would have to be careful to keep in check. One misdirected comment to mean doom for the thin peace Fili, who was now King under the Mountain since Thorin's death, and the Elf King, Thranduil had formed.

Why Fili had chosen him, of all the Dwarves in Erebor was what Kili could not figure out. Fili must have known that he would think of nothing but Tauriel while he was there, and Kili knew well that he did not love the She-elf. No matter how Kili thought about it, there was no practical reason to send him on this mission, but Kili was glad he was here. Maybe now he would be able to fix things with his beloved. They hadn't left each other on the best of terms, and it had taken a while for Kili to move past his anger and simply miss her.

Dwarves could hold grudges for a long time, but it was nothing compared to how long an Elf could stay angry. Immortality lend itself to being able to spend life times in anger and resentment. Kili hoped the Tauriel was not the kind of Elf that could hold a grudge for centuries.

Diplomacy Kili reminded himself. He was not here for personal reasons. He spent the rest of his trek that day trying to keep the Elf that had stolen his heart out if his head.

Tauriel had been back at her post as Captain on the Guard for nearly 5 months and she still wasn't sure why things weren't back to normal. Yes, she had been banished for a time, but Thranduil had revoked it and welcomed her back with open arms. Well, as open as Thranduil could be.

Were people still feeling sorry for her? Tauriel had believed that she was putting on a good show of being unaffected by Kili's death. She had been trained since birth to be able to keep her emotions hidden. Was she really that transparent?

And it wasn't like they had been together or anything. He had never even kissed her. There was no reason for the Elves in her guard to be tip-toeing around her feelings. Yet they all walked on eggshells to avoid the subject of Dwarves.

So she knew that was exactly what her men had been talking about when they stopped mid-sentence as she walked into the training room.

"What are you looking at?" She snapped as she felt the dozen pairs of eyes trained on her.

"Nothing, Cáno," her second-in-command, Alok, said. Tauriel frowned at the quickness of his reply.

"What were you speaking of?" she demanded. Everyone was silent and avoiding her gaze, "Will no one answer me?"

"The King beneath the Mountain has sent an emissary," Alok replied.

"Thranduil would allow a Dwarf in his halls?" Tauriel asked, trying to hide her flinch at the mention of Fili.

"Thranduil requested it," another elf, Erlan replied.

"Hmm," Tauriel mused. Why hadn't she been told of this? Even under peaceful circumstances, welcoming a dwarf would surely draw some sort of threat to the King. She should have been notified by at least Legolas.

"Cáno?" Alok questioned, pulling her out of her thoughts.

"Go out to the archery range," she said quickly, "We will be working on target practice today"

She had be planning on practicing hand-to-hand combat today, but her men didn't need supervision on the archery field, which would hopefully give her the chance to speak with Thranduil before this "emissary" would arrive.

Kili must have increased his pace, because it was hours before sunset when he saw the first spires of the Halls of Thranduil. Maybe he had been unconsciously thinking of how he could get back to Tauriel quicker and had begun walking faster. Whatever had happened, Kili was grateful he wouldn't have to spend another night in the forest alone. It had been frightening enough when he had been surrounded by thirteen others, but he didn't care to think of what would happen if had to fight the spiders by himself.

He careful began making his way to the palace. Fili had said he would send a raven to notify the Elves of his coming, but he would still rather not surprise them. Kili knew firsthand how deadly Elves could be, and he'd rather not be thought of as an enemy.

"Are you the emissary?" a voice behind him asked. These damned Elves and their stealth, Kili cursed as he whipped around.

"Yes," Kili replied, putting his blade away and examining the Elf before him. He was tall, taller even than Legolas, and had long, dark brown hair and nearly black eyes.

He placed an arm over his chest in greeting and gave a slight bow, "Welcome to Mirkwood," he said, "Please follow me."

The Elf walked past him before Kili could return the greeting. Why did Elves have to be so stiff and formal, Kili wondered as he followed the Elf to the palace

It was always Thranduil's style to make his guests wait. Tauriel was accustomed to this, yet it still irritated her. She knew she was no high Elf, but she was still the Captain of his guard, and she believed that earned her a respite from his dramatics.

"The King will see you now," his Throne-room guard said tersely.

She nodded and walked through the now open door.

"Tauriel," Thranduil said, as if he was surprised to see her, "To what do I owe the pleasure."

"I wished to speak of your safety, your highness," she said with a bow. She might be annoyed, but Thranduil was still her king and she needed to show the proper respects.

"Oh?" he replied as he took a sip of wine from his ornate goblet.

"The emissary," Tauriel replied, cutting right to the point, "Why was I not informed."

"It was… unnecessary," he said.

"Unnecessary?" she asked incredulously, "You are inviting a stranger to your home, and you deem it unnecessary for the captain of your guard to now."

"It would be wise for you to hold your tongue," he scolded as he took a long stride toward her, "There are still many here who see you as an enemy."

"Me? Why?"

"You held an allegiance to a Dwarf over your king," he said simply, "Many would believe that to deem you a traitor."

"I am no traitor, your majesty," she said through clenched teeth.

"I know that," Thranduil replied nonchalantly, "But your men have their doubts."

"Which men?" Tauriel asked.

"That is something for you to find out for yourself."

"So," she said, "You didn't tell me because you feared others would believe I would align myself with the dwarf again?"

"Precisely," Thranduil said as he sat back down.

"Your Highness," she said, "Your safety is my top priority. I would appreciate that all information concerning visitors be sent to me in the future."

"Yes…" Thranduil said, "I believe that would be best"

Tauriel gave another terse bow, "Thank you, my king."

"You may take your leave back to your men," Thranduil said with a wave of her hand. Tauriel knew that was her signal that she had no further business with the king and took her leave. Maybe she would be able to get some combat training in with the guard after all.

"If you have something to say, say it," Thranduil said. Legolas stepped out behind the pillar her had been eavesdropping behind. Legolas thought he had entered the throne room undetected, but of course his father noticed everything.

"Is it wise to continue lying to her, father?" Legolas asked, "She will see the dwarf soon enough."

"She will be angry" Thranduil agreed, "Angry enough to possibly leave."

"And?"

"Angry enough to be a fair test of her loyalty."

"You are trying to test her?" Legolas asked.

"Indeed," Thranduil said, "When faced with the choice between keeping her vows as Captain and being with her love, her true colors will show."

"This will not end well, Father," Legolas said.

"You might be right," Thranduil conceded, "But it will work"

Legolas left the throne room. Perhaps he should find Tauriel and tell her the truth. But doing that would risk angering his father. But between the options of angering the King and her…

Legolas sped off to find Tauriel

Translations

Cano- Captain