„He died", she said with tears in her eyes.

„Who?", I asked her and put my hand on her shoulders. I was concerned that it might be someone I knew.

„Kili", she whispered. I felt my heart sunk.

„The dwarve?"

She nodded in response. I was confused. Why was this dwarve so important to her?

We stood there in the improvised camp for those who got injured. We mountain was back in the hands of the dwarves. Most of the orcs were dead and those who ran away were hunted.

Tauriel sat on the floor and I was kneeling down beside her. I was worried. Not only because of her crying but of the big and bloody wound on her leg. I should have helped her but something stopped me.

New tears escaped Tauriels eyes.

„Don't cry" I whispered. I wanted to say that the dwarve wasn't worse those tears. But I didn't. It would have lead to nothing. She might have hated me for those words. I couldn't let that happen.

„But-", she sobbed. „But he was important to me"

My heart stopped. That couldn't be. Elves only love one person who they spend their whole life with. Only one. If she loved him-

„You loved him?" I couldn't stop this question to be said.

Tauriel met my eyes for the first time after the battle. They were swollen from her tears and a deep sadness laid within them.

„Legolas", she whispered. Her eyes widened.

„Just answer the question", I pleaded. I was scared. Scared that I might have lost her.

She was silent for a what seemed like hours. Then finally she opened her mouth.

„No"

Then I did something she didn't expected me to do. Even I didn't expected me to do this.

I leaned forward and kissed her.

First I felt her stiffen but soon she responded to our kiss. She wound her arms around my neck and pulled me closer to her. I had to place my hands on the floor beside her hips to not fall on top of her or hurt her damaged leg. I didn't wanted to end this so soon. It felt right.

But Tauriel broke the kiss and I sat beside her. She leaned her head on my shoulder.

„Why?", her voice muffled by my shoulder.

„Because I love you", I said. I thought she would run away or laugh but she didn't.

„I love you too"

I felt a heavy weight being lifted of my shoulders.

I didn't cared for the just ended battle. I didn't cared for what my father would say.

For the moment I was just happy to just sit here with my beloved by my side.

It was as if all my wishes suddenly came true.