"I'm in love with a dwarf."

Tauriel's words left me speechless for a few minutes. "What?" I finally managed to squeak out.

Tauriel nodded. "I know it's crazy, not to mention forbidden, but..."

"Which one?" I asked, my shock replaced with curiosity. "Please don't tell me it's the one that seems quite intent on murdering Ithilwen..."

Tauriel laughed. "Don't worry, it's not. It's the youngest one, Kili."

"Oh, Kili! He's very nice." I said before I could stop myself. "We...erm, talked..." I quickly added.

"Talked?" Asked Tauriel, a skeptical look on her face.

"Just a casual conversation" I lied. Hopefully, she wouldn't find out about my emotional outburst.

"Didn't sound so casual to me, based on the way he kept referring to you as 'that poor girl'." Tauriel said dryly. "He went on about you for nearly half an hour"

I blushed. So much for keeping my outburst secret...

"I'm guessing you won't mind it if I tell you that we need to help the dwarves escape?" Tauriel asked.

"Not at all! In fact, I was just about to do just that!" I told her, showing her the paper I was still holding. She took it, looking it over.

"Hmm...the barrels...clever..." she murmured, handing the paper back. "Go ahead and bring it to them. Go the long way, I'll need some time to get Ithilwen out." She instructed, muttering something about 'that stubborn, ever-changing elf' as she ran off.

I started walking the alternative route to the dungeons. I knew I was in no rush- It would take a while to distract Ithilwen. Tauriel was right, she certainly was stubborn.

Abruptly, I collided with something, or rather, someone. Looking down, I saw a very startled-looking halfling. Instinctively, I reached for my dagger, placing it against his throat.

"What business do you have here?" I hissed. "Are you a friend of the dwarves?"

"Y-y-yes..." he stammered. "I-I mean no harm..."

"Do you wish to help them escape?" I whispered, and he nodded.

"Please don't-" he began to say, but I cut his sentence short.

"Give them this" I said, shoving the paper in his hands. "They wouldn't believe an elf."

"You're on their side?" He asked, confused. "But I thought-"

"Just go" I told him. "My sister will have cleared the area by now."

"Thank you" he breathed, and ran off.

I smiled in satisfaction, rushing back to meet Tauriel. She was waiting for me, looking extremely annoyed.

"Next time, YOU'RE getting Ithilwen out." She said. "I ended up having to literally drag her out of there!"

I let out a small laugh, quickly turning it into a cough when Tauriel sent me a murderous glare.

"How you could ever posses the ability to befriend someone like that, I'll never know" She grumbled.

"So, what did you do with her?" I asked.

"Tied her to a tree" she replied casually.

I smiled. "She's not going to be very happy with you when she escapes."

Suddenly, I heard an elf call out. It was only four simple words, but they brought a sense of victory to me- A sense that I probably shouldn't have had.

"The dwarves are escaping!"