SEVEN DEVILS, fili durin

CHAPTER SEVEN

"You'll find out soon enough."

Sitting amongst his fellow dwarves on the short tables provided and listening to their complaints about the green food with an idle ear, Fili found himself a wee bit distracted in truth, hardly even aware of the way his stomach grumbled its protest at his lack of attention. No, he was far too busy staring at the entrance of the hall, awaiting the final member of their company with a certain restlessness inside him because no matter how hard he tried, his concerned gaze would constantly advert straight back over to the archway as if it hadn't strayed in the first place.

He sighed, a noise that was leaving his lips rather frequently with every minute that passed, looking down at his plate with a slight grimace on his face as he plopped a carrot into his mouth and grumbled under his breath with his mouth full, thankful that the others seemed to be sharing his foul mood, even if it were for different reasons as they were forced to listen to the gentle swaying music of the elves as they played their instruments in the background.

However, it seemed that at least someone was enjoying the elf maidens presence, if the way his brother hadn't been able to tear his gaze away from their fair features with awe in his eyes and his lips slightly parted, practically drooling as they walked past him or sat just a few steps in front of then, long and elegant fingers brushing over the harp strings and filling the air with their songs. Fili glanced back over to the archway, and looked away with another grunt as he stabbed his fork into the greenery on his plate rather aggressively...After all, how long did it take for a lass to get changed into some simple robes?

"I can't say I fancy elf-maids." Kili grumbled quite suddenly with his smile quickly dropping when Dwalin caught his eye in the middle of his adventures in flirtation, the tips of his ears burning pink as he grasped at an excuse for his less than subtle staring, feeling the others and their almost judgemental gazes as they all turned to look at him while Fili chuckled lightly under his breath, not even trying to help when his younger scrubbed at his cheek in anxious fashion.

"Too thin, all high cheekbones and creamy skin, not enough facial hair for me...though that one's not bad." He said, eyes trailing over another elf that walked on by them without so much as a backward glance as Kili looked around the table for support, and seeming to finally get it in the form of Bofur leaning towards him, eyes crinkled up in a smile and a placeting grin upon his lips as he patted the younger's shoulder in a show of solidarity who exhaled in relief, not seeing the way Bofur winked at an amused Fili from over his rather tall head who only just managed to muffle his snort in time as he leaned towards him grinning.

"That's not an elf-maid, brother."

Kili's face instantly formed into a one of absolute horror as he glanced down at the chuckling blonde, mouth hanging open just slightly in disbelief before he looked over to Dwalin in panic, searching, begging for reassurance...only for the bald dwarf to wink and send the whole table in hysterics at his misfortune as he nodded, digging his tongue into the side of his cheek with displeasure and a pout forming on his lips, looking very put out indeed as he nodded at them all. "That's funny, really funny."

"Least we know a real woman when we see one." Fili quirked his brows over the brim of his drink, taking a strong sip to hide his amused smile as Kili frowned and turned to face him, his betrayed and quite frankly, indignant gaze glaring towards him in vengeful frustration, his tone dripping with sarcastic interest as he leaned forward with his elbows against the table.

"Aye? And what does a real woman look like to you then, brother?"

But whatever words the blonde prince was going to say died on his tongue as he finally saw movement out of the corner of his eye, the last member of their company joining them it seemed, but when Fili turned his head to look up at her, he felt his throat constrict so that even if he wanted to answer his brother, he couldn't...jaw hanging open slightly and his breath practically being forced out of his lungs as he openly stared at the ethereal being as she stalked across the courtyard with his blood rushing straight to his head so he could hear nothing but the beat of his heart as it pounded.