Aftermath: Part One

The aftermath was terrible. Bodies strewn across the battle field, their smell of rot attacking Tauriel's sensitive nose. Even so, she stood upon a crag, looking out across the corpses, looking for the one the others couldn't find.

It was difficult, even with her enhanced sight (compared to other beings, at least – among Elves, it was normal). But finally, finally, she found him.

Treading lightly, she dropped from the crag and nimbly made her way through the open graveyard towards the ragged breathing she could hear more as she got ever closer.

"Kili!" she cried, running now.

"Taur… iel?" She could barely hear the faint response. The Elf practically flung herself to the Dwarf's side, whose bronze eyes flickered over to her, not quite focusing. "What… what are you doing… here?" He asked, attempting to caress her face with his hand.

She took the outstretched hand in both of hers and pressed it to her cheek. Her own eyes began to water. "I came for you," she said softly.

Kili smiled. "I knew you would." He coughed a little, blood spattering his lips. "My… brother? Fili?"

Tauriel closed her eyes briefly, not wanting to bring him more pain. "He and your uncle… They're both…" She couldn't finish. Kili's face fell.

"I guess that would make me King Under The Mountain," he whispered. Neither of the two were sure if he was attempting to lighten the mood or trying to accept their fate. He looked back up at her. "Would you be my Queen?"

Tauriel smiled. "Perhaps," she answered, "but I must heal you first." Reluctantly, she let go of Kili's hand, which returned to its former place on his stomach (where he seemed to be holding in his innards). The Elf took off her satchel and swiftly began to rummage through it before bringing out a waterskin and some athelas. She uncorked the waterskin and poured a little water on her hand.

"It has cooled some, but it will do," she murmured to herself. Kili watched as she ripped the leaves of the white-flowered plant and hastily stuffed the pieces into the waterskin. She set it aside, and brought out another. She uncorked it, turned to Kili, and held the opening to his lips. "Drink, mell nín."

Though not sure what she had called him, he obeyed, lifting his head a little to sip at the cool water a little easier. Once he had drunk his fill, he lay his head back down. Tauriel took a swig of her own before corking it and returning it to her satchel.

As she brought her hand out, she held a wad of linen. She unrolled some and ripped off a section. Putting the rest back, she took the piece she had ripped off and folded it several times over. She then proceeded to soak it in the athelas infused water.

Kili moaned as he fought against unconsciousness.

"Hold on, Kili," Tauriel almost pleaded. "Please."

He felt, rather than saw, as she gently took his hands away from the wound in his gut. Tauriel clenched her jaw at the sight, but continued, washing some of the battle's detritus away with the infusion. Kili made a noise of protest, but she ignored it, focused on her task.

Once she was sure the wound was clean, she pressed the soaked linen to it. Now came the tricky part.

Holding the makeshift pad with one hand, Tauriel reached back to her satchel to retrieve the rest of the linen. "You'll have to try and sit up," she said. "I need to bind you."

Kili nodded, and together the two of them pushed and pulled until Kili was sitting up enough for Tauriel to wrap the linen around his body. She tried to bind it as tight as she could without cutting off circulation, but she felt she did alright.

At least, she did until Kili lost consciousness.

"Baw!"

She thrust her hands on his bandage and began to speak all the healing words she knew.

There will be two endings for this. Read on, and let me know in a review which ending you prefer! (Though I think I can guess.)

Glossary:

Athelas – AKA Kingsfoil, a healing plant. Best used by those of Elven ancestry.

Mell nín – Elvish, "my love".

Baw – Elvish, "no".