From Other Worlds

The Woodland Kingdom

It was a long walk through the gates and into the dungeon. Legolas kept a hold of Rayna to guide her. He wasn't too fond of every pause she took to look around the halls, even if it was in appreciation.

"Woah hold your grip there. You need to loosen up, Lord Legolas. You're so tightly wound! I get it, you're going through a phase. But calm down, get humble it will take years off your life." Rayna was teasing the elf prince.

"Do you speak to all royalty like this?"

"Oh yeah, ask them." Rayna confirmed.

"I'm amazed they haven't found it annoying."

"Honestly at this point I have nothing left to do but be annoying." Rayna was laughing as he shoved her into a cell. That's when it happened, the conversation between Tauriel and Legolas.

"Tall for a dwarf, don't you think?" Tauriel spoke in elvish before walking away.

"But no less ugly." Legolas replied.

"I don't know. I think he's kinda cute."  Rayna spoke up. Legolas whipped his head in her direction, "Are you in love with her, or are you just friends?"

"What does it matter to you, woman."

"It matters to you."

"Like you said. You are annoying." Legolas stared at her.

Rayna began belting out a song, "Oh I know someday I'll make it out of here! Even if it takes all night or a hundreds years!"

"I will bind your mouth or cut your tongue if you continue." Legolas threatened.

"Can't wait until you're more fun." Rayna stepped away from the cell door.

"Touch her and I will rip you to shreds." Kili threatened as Legolas walked by. Speaking low enough for only him to hear.

It felt like hours had passed, and Thorin hadn't returned from the throne room. The dungeons were too silent when Kili stood, hands clinging to the cell door.

"Rayna, why do you keep calling me master dwarf?"

"It's proper isn't it?"

"Stop it."

"Why?"

"Just stop it. I don't want to be called that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's killing me to not hear you say my name."

"Okay." Rayna backed into her cell, unable to say it now. Kili could tell there was pain behind her soft reply. He only wished to know what pain he caused her, if he caused her any. Or what pain she had that made her this way to him. It almost consumed him as he sat, holding the runestone his mother gave him. She'd know what to say, he knew that. He began wracking his brain for what his mother would say to him if he told her. Told her about the maiden from the stars and all the wonderful things about her. It only occurred to him as he dropped the stone that maybe it was what Rayna already knew to be happening. He jumped up to catch the stone when it was stepped on, saving it from being lost in the elven kingdom forever.

"What is this?" Tauriel held it up, examining the way the stone flashed, and the runes carved upon it.

"It holds a curse upon it for any who are not a dwarf." Kili walked to the cell door, watching Tauriel as she brought her hand down, "Or it's just a talisman. My mother gave it to me before we left."

"A lovely gift." Tauriel passed the stone to him.

"It's so I keep my promise to her."

"What promise is that?"