This imagine was requested by @kitkat150 ; Kili is teaching you how to braid your hair after catching you attempting it on your own, and sneaking in a courting braid.

You had barely escaped the orc's. Thankfully, the eagles had appeared right on time and had taken you away from your certain death. Thorin was injured but he could walk and hug a hobbit so he should be fine. The orc's were three days of travel behind you now. Enough time to eat, bathe and tend to wounds if needed. Oin had already scanned you for injuries and decided you were fine. Before he could tell you to go, you were already running towards the water. 'I have never seen anyone so excited about water' Oin murmured to himself as Dwalin sat down to be checked.

While you were running, you pulled your shirt off over your head and tossed it somewhere on the ground. You struggled to take your pants off while running, so you almost fell over. But nothing could stop you. The last days, weeks if you were honest, only consisted of running and fighting enemies. The lake was practically calling your name. Without a doubt, you jumped in. You opened your eyes beneath the surface and saw that the fish were swimming off in different directions. Several sizes of stones were scattered on the bottom of the lake. There was so much to discover down here.

You wanted to go further but Thorin wouldn't be too happy about it. Everyone had to stay close now that the enemy was on their tail. You had become a valueble member to the dwarves and they tried to keep you safe during this quest. Swimming off wouldn't make them feel better. You swam back up to the surface and noticed that Bilbo was standing on the shore, his clothes soaked and a small frown on his face. You laughed. 'Did I do that?' Bilbo tried to look angry at you but soon, he was laughing too. 'You are really excited about taking a bath, aren't you?' he asked. 'Aren't you excited?' Bilbo shrugged.

'I think this will do' he said and started taking off his clothes to lay them down on a stone to dry. The rest of the morning, you stayed inside the lake and refuged to come out. By the time you were finally done, your skin was wrinkled, you were finally clean. You still wore your small clothes so you weren't naked. You walked back on shore and looked around the camp. Several dwarves were sitting with their closest kin, braiding their hair. You had been fascinated with braiding ever since you saw the braids in dwarves' hair. They were known to keep secrets about their traditions so you didn't ask them to teach you how to braid. Maybe they would take it as an insult if you did.

Bilbo had once tried to do it for you, but it didn't look the same. An idea popped into your head. You had watched them do it so many times, maybe you could braid your own hair! You just needed an empty, silent spot so that no one could see you do it. They would probably laugh at you or feel sorry for you that you had no one to braid your hair, and you didn't need their sympathy. What you did want, was for them to include you in this tradition and offer it to you. But since that didn't happen, you had to take matters into your own hands. You chose a spot were you could still see the Company, and they could see you if they wanted to. You took the first strand of hair in your hand and started braiding.

At least, you attempted you braid it. With your tongue sticking out between your lips, you were concentrating on your hair. It seemed so easy when the dwarves did it. Maybe their hair was easier. Your hair was very soft and stubborn. It never did what you wanted, just like now. When eleventh attempt failed, you let your hands fall to the ground and you sighed heavily. Why was this so hard? 'Do you need some help?' Your head spun around and you saw the dark haired prince smiling cheekily at you. 'How long have you been standing there?' 'Long enough to notice you don't know how to braid' he answered and pushed himself off of the tree. With his hands, he slowly turned your head the other way, and sat down behind you.

'What kind of braid do you want?' Kili asked, combing your hair with his fingers. You frowned. 'What do you mean?' 'Don't tell me you don't know there are several kinds of braids.' He stopped what he was doing and leaned to the right to look at your face. 'Or do you just want me to do what I think will look good on you?' he asked, a hint of mischief in his eyes. You should have known better to say yes, but yes you said. Kili got back to combing your hair before he took a hold of some of your hair and started braiding. Still not understanding that you didn't know there was more then one way to braid ones hair, he felt the need to explain it to you.

'The kind of braids are friendship, kin, courting, betrothal and marriage. They look different and are meant to send a message to others. When you are wearing a marriage braid, for example, others will know that you are already married and thus no one else can propose a courtship to you.' You shut your eyes tight when Kili pulled at your hair a bit too hard. Obviously, he didn't notice. But he did. And he quickly put one of his beads in the braid to show everyone exactly who you belonged to. He didn't like the looks the hobbit had send you when you undressed. Master Dwalin should know his place too, he thought stubbornly. 'Is it alright if I make three braids?' he asked, already starting with the second one.

You shrugged. 'As long as you won't pull all my hair out, it's fine' you said. Kili smiled. Perfect. He would have slipped in a third braid either way. 'What do the other braids look like?' you asked while Kili pulled at your hair again. 'They are hard to describe lass, you should see them before you would understand.' 'Has somebody in the Company courting braids right now?' you asked, genuinely interested. Kili smirked, finishing the third braid and admiring his master piece. If you only knew. 'Aye, someone does. You're done lass' he announces, getting up from the ground and offering you a hand. You thankfully accept it and let your fingers slip over the braids.

'Bilbo carries a mirror with him, if you want to see how beautiful they look on you' Kili says, pointing at the hobbit across the camp. 'I think I will do just that, thank you Kili' you say. You swing your arms around his neck and hug him tightly. His cheeks heat up a little but you didn't notice. Right now, you just want to know how the braids look on you. You turned around and ran towards Bilbo, he would surely let you borrow his mirror. When you cross the camp on your way to the hobbit, the dwarves look up and spot your new braids. Kili stands behind a tree, watching their amazed looks. They have all seen you, so no one can deny knowing exactly who you belong to. Now, the only one left to inform about the courtship is you.