Her unfortunate childhood was common knowledge amongst the elves of Mirkwood. In fact most of them had ever been there when she was rushed into the kingdom still covered in blood and clutching desperately to Thranduil's front as he steered the giant elk. She hadn't spoken for weeks after, the sight of her parents dying under Orc hands while trying to protect her the only thing she could see when she closed her eyes and tried to rest. It was only when Legolas had started trying to talk to her that she'd slowly come out of it. She had come around to her new home slowly, and instantly showed a devotion to the King that had saved her, as well as a close friendship with his son. She had been so incredibly young when all that had happened, yet very soon after she had dedicated herself to learning how to fight. She vowed to never be helpless again, and to make herself useful to the elf that had saved her life. Everyone around her knew all this. What they didn't know was that she had exactly one thing to remember her parents by. The last thing her mother had done before she was killed was to turn to her young daughter and shove a tiny pointy object into her hand, muttering in elvish. "We love you darling. Take this and run. It is yours now. Use it well." She had then shoved Tauriel towards their back door before turning back to the snarling Orc. The next thing Tauriel knew she was being scooped up off the ground and held to Thranduil's chest. She hadn't even opened her hand until later that night when she was left alone in a dark chamber in a bed far too big for her.
As she thought about that day for the millionth time her fingers went straight to that final thing her mother had given her. Her small silver necklace that never left her neck. To others it seemed like such a small trinket, but she knew what it truly was. She knew what powers her mother had bestowed onto her. She squeezed it slightly the touched it back under the tunic. The Star Stone.
She had vivid memories of her mother wearing the necklace herself, and she recalled the night she had told her about the stone. About the unique magic it was meant to possess and the stories behind it. She had been given the stone by her own mother centuries before. From what she said it had been in their family since the beginning of ages. Now it was Tauriel only bit of family left. All her mother had said about it was that it was precious and it was powerful. She had simply told her it was a wish that you could use when you thought the moment right. The rest she had said she would tell her when she was older. That day had just never come. She had used Thranduil's extensive library to searh for more information on the sparkling gem, but had found very little other than it was a legend, a faraway tale of a star that fell to earth that gave once great act of pure magic to whoever holds it and truly believes they need its power.
The thought of this all-powerful stone had never been very heavy on her mind though. She was almost used to its presence and most days she simply forgot about it. That is until the dwarves burst into her life.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
"I saw a fire moon once…." She listened intently as he spoke, completely entranced by those dark eyes. She could have sat listening to him all night. He spoke with such wonder in his voice that she felt an insane desire to see all these things too. She found herself longing for a life beyond this kingdom. It was an incredibly strange sensation after the life she'd led. And she knew that it all had to do with the dark haired dwarf.
She told him of the stars and he told her of the lands he'd seen. She didn't even realised she'd become oblivious to everything else happening around them. The time had passed by so quickly she was scare to believe it. If anyone questioned what she had been doing for hours alone with the dwarf she would have claimed she was interrogating him.
Looking back now she knows she was falling in love.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\/\\/\\/
She sat beside him and finally let out the breath she had been holding. He was breathing solidly now, and his colour was beginning to return. He was back from the brink of death and she could finally relax. She was shaking slightly and her own breathing was shallow. She was exhausted, she had no idea how she had summoned up the power to heal him, but she was grateful to whatever power had bestowed it on her. She had faced loss in her life and she was not ready for him to join that pain. Watching as he slept, she suddenly felt a sharp pain on her chest. Flinching she reached inside her tunic to see what was causing it. Her fingers made contact with her silver necklace and she gasped. It was burning hot. Taking it by the chain she pulled it away from her skin, using her other hand to feel if it had left a burn. Finding it hadn't she apprehensively touched the small pendant again, it was stone cold, as it always had been. She frowned truly puzzled. Had she imagined the immense heat? Had it actually just been an after effect of the healing magic she had used. Her mind was distracted as Fili returned to the kitchen, to his brother's side.
She was pondering the necklace when the dragon attacked, and had shoved it to the back of her mind since.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
"Keep it." He said closing her hand. "As a promise." Suddenly she felt this over whelming pull in her to go towards him, to follow him. It was almost like something was physically dragging her towards him. The spell was quickly broken though as Legolas's voice cut through the air. Her eyes locked with the dwarf's one last time as she tore herself away.
She made her way across the lands beside her lifelong friend, but her mind and heart were making their way to Erebor. She had no idea how this had all happened, what had drawn her so instantaneously to Kili. What force had set out to drive them together?
"Tauriel…" Legolas broke their silence after the longest of ages. She slowed down a touch, matching her pace to his. Though avoiding his eye. "You are my oldest friend. Though I am older than you. No other has mean as much to me, and I doubt ever will. I…"
Her eyes shot open, she stared at him slack jawed.
"Don't Legolas please…" she said stopping completely. He smiled the briefest of smiles.
"This is not a declaration of love. Do not be alarmed." A frown passed across her face. And she stayed silent. "I simply want to have it said that I don't agree with this… relationship you have decided to embark on. But I will always be your ally. I will always be your friend."
Tauriel's heart filled with love of her friend she slowly reached out and rested her hand on his arm.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"Just don't expect me to visit the dwelling of a dwarf anytime in the future. I may concede to meet your children someday." He said, she noticed how hard he was trying to keep a serious face. The joyful moment passed quickly.
"I do not think you will have to concede to anything my friend. Even if we both survive this battle, I cannot see an easy path. Perhaps he shall even come to his senses."
"I highly doubt he will fall out of love with you." The prince stated as he began walking again.
"When the world is against you, anything is possible." She said hanging her head as she followed.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
For the first time in her entire life she was out of breath, and had a stitch in her side. She could not get up the mountain fast enough.
"Tauriel! You are going to hurt yourself!" Legolas called after her.
"We need to warn them!"
"I know but if you fell yourself how can we." She looked over her shoulder at her lifelong friend, who followed close behind her effortlessly.
"You don't understand, they will die to defend their uncle. They will sacrifice themselves for the hopes of a home they have never known." She couldn't even feel ashamed of the tears in her eyes. "We need to get to them."
"He will also die for you…" Legolas said in a whisper that was barely carried on the wind that passed them. Tauriel's footing went out of sync and she stumbled slightly. The blonde prince reached out and caught her effortlessly. They stopped short as he held her two arms steadying her. "I heard him on the beach. He would gladly perish for you too." She took a deep breath. "Let's keep going."
"Thank you."
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/
"Kili!" she called out into the mountain. She was frantically climbing when she found him, left strewn on the rocks eyes wide open.
"no!" she gasped covering her mouth. She bend down and cradled his head. File stared up at her, face frozen in pain. "Oh Fili…"she muttered. "I will find him." she gripped his hand tight and bowing slightly "He will live." A tear escaped and ran down her cheek. Closing his eyes she turned and took off further up the mountain, felling as many orcs as she could along her path, though it didn't seem to help they just kept coming.
"KILI!" she called out again.
"Tauriel!" she heard a faint response. Her heart lept, he was still alive.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
Her stomach clenched as the Orc snarled at them both, her breath left her as the sword went through him. It slid so easily through his body that she thought it a trick. Though the tear trail left on his cheek made it impossible for her to imagine him to be unharmed. An earth shattering sob ran through her as his body fell to the ground.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\
The kiss was short and bittersweet. She poured all she could into it, trying to say everything she never had the chance to utter. Then as she lifted his hand and held it to her chest it happened again. The sharpest heat shot through her and a searing pain began in her chest. Clinging to his hand with one of her own she used the other to reach under her clothes. Her fingers found the chain easily, and she pulled it out into view.
The sight dazzled her, the stone shone more brightly than anyting she had ever seen before. It seared her eyes and yet she could not look away.
While staring at the light it gave everything became clear. She knew what to do.
Tugging the chain lightly it came free from around her neck and she held it up in front of her.
"Save him." she whispered before bringing the stone to her lips and kissing it lightly.
She let it fall, watching it slowly gliding through the air to land on Kili's chest.
The light took over.
\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/\\/
End of Part One