A/N: So… I've never attempted a LOTR or Hobbit fanfic before. I've never written about their universes or characters. This may prove to be disastrous haha… But here's a oneshot about Kili and Tauriel during the events of The Battle of the Five Armies. I love this couple so much, even though there was hardly any time for them to develop. Anyway, R&R, and I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: J.R.R. Tolkien wrote the book, and Peter Jackson directed the movies. I own neither.

Needed Elsewhere

The dragon Smaug had laid waste to Laketown. The surviving inhabitants fled to the outer shores of the lake using whatever boats were left intact. They reached the beaches surrounding the lake, dragging the wounded and carrying whatever belongings they could. Screams and cries echoed throughout the area from men, women, and children alike. The survivors watched from afar as their homes smoldered into nothing but ash. Smoke billowed up from the center of the lake and was carried off by the wind, leaving Laketown as nothing more than a gray spot in the distance. It had been completely incinerated.

Tauriel kept close to Bard's two daughters, Sigrid and Tilda, as they called for their father. Their brother was nowhere to be found either. Little did any of them know that Bard was the one who had killed Smaug and stopped the attack. He might not have saved Laketown, but he saved all of the people who stood on those shores. Tauriel grabbed Tilda by the arm, thankful that the girls were alright. Protecting them and ensuring their safety was the least that she could do for Bard, since he had welcomed the dwarves into his home.

Tauriel remembered arriving at Bard's home with Legolas and fighting off some of the orcs that had invaded Laketown. She remembered staying with the dwarves and Bard's family. She remembered healing Kili. They were all lucky to have made it out alive, especially him. As Sigrid and Tilda moved away from her, Tauriel felt his presence. Kili approached her slowly, and she turned to face him.

"Tauriel," he said softly.

She loved the way that he spoke her name. He loved speaking it. They weren't very far away from one another as they looked into each other's eyes. Kili's were dark and full of sadness. He stared at her with a concerned expression on his face. Tauriel wouldn't break eye contact with him, her hazel eyes watching him diligently. Neither of them moved, even when Kili's brother addressed him.

"Kili!" Fili called over his shoulder. "Come on! We're leaving!"

Kili paid no mind to Fili as he, Bofur, and Oin pushed their boat further into the water of the lake. Kili wanted nothing more than to stay with Tauriel. In that moment, he couldn't have cared less about Erebor or Thorin or his own potential succession to the throne. Wherever Tauriel was, he wanted to be. It was that simple. He wanted to have time with her, the time that they had been robbed of ever since they met. Now was his chance to be with her the way that he intended to. He only hoped that she felt the same way. Tauriel did feel the same way, but her head began to rule over her heart.

"They are your people," she told him. "You must go."

She walked past Kili, deciding that she should find Sigrid and Tilda again. She had to make sure that they were reunited with their father and brother. But Kili wouldn't let her go that easily. Not this time. He whirled around and caught up with her.

"Come with me," he said.

His eyes met hers again, and he could see them change. Even though they were light in color, they seemed so cold and serious most of the time. But whenever he spoke to her, Tauriel's eyes became brighter. Kili noticed that this only happened with him. This change encouraged him to reveal all that he felt for her, what he hadn't had the chance to tell her until now.

"I know how I feel," he said. "I'm not afraid. You make me feel alive."

Tauriel's emotions swelled within her. The pace of her breathing increased, and she could feel her heart rate speeding up. She gazed at his face. The sadness in his eyes had been replaced with complete admiration and joy. They indeed became more alive than they were before. He no longer frowned. She could see the happiness returning to him, and her heart felt as though it would burst with her own happiness. Yet her mind interrupted once more.

"Please, don't…" she said, turning away from him.

"Tauriel…" Kili said.

Both of them could sense the effect that her name continued to have on them. He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently, a silent urge for her not to go. Tauriel returned the gesture.

"Amrâlimê," he whispered to her.

She looked at him with wide eyes. That word was so beautiful. She didn't know how, but it was, and it had a resounding impact on her. Her mouth opened slightly, and she was unsure of what to say for once. Somehow, she knew what that word meant, even though it was in an unfamiliar tongue. She deduced that it was the language of the dwarves, Khuzdul. But the gravity of that word had hit her the moment it escaped his lips.

"… I do not know what that means," she said.

Kili smiled for the first time since they had been reunited in Laketown. He knew that she was smarter than that. He had just told her that she was his love, and she understood. He could tell because of her reaction. She just didn't want to reveal how she truly felt, but he did. Kili loved her. He couldn't have known her for more than a few days and loved her all the same. He inched toward her.

"I think you do," he said.

Tauriel couldn't hold back anymore. She wouldn't. She leaned forward, closing the distance between herself and Kili before she froze. She sensed another presence and acknowledged it.

"My Lord Legolas," she said in her native tongue. Kili glared over her shoulder at the elf who had intruded upon them.

"Take your leave of the dwarf," Legolas said in Elvish. "You are needed elsewhere."

Kili looked at Tauriel. She had turned her head away from him. She had stayed with him the last time that this elf called her away. If she hadn't, Kili would've been dead, and he would've been multiple times if she hadn't been there. She disobeyed her people's orders every time she saved his life. Kili knew that there was a reason why she did, and maybe, she would do so again this time. However, when Tauriel faced him again, she backed away. Kili's heart sank, and his eyes fell to the ground. He turned around and headed for Fili and the others.

"Yes," Tauriel finally said. Kili stopped in his tracks, his back to her.

She faced Legolas and witnessed the flicker of surprise that crossed his face.

"I am needed elsewhere," she continued. "And it is not with you, Legolas."

Kili's body whipped around, almost as if he had no control over it anymore. Tauriel swallowed thickly and looked Legolas straight in the eye. Her gaze didn't falter. Legolas kept her gaze as well, refusing to break it.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me, and beg your Lord Father to do so as well. But…" A slight smile came to Tauriel's lips. "I must go with Kili. He needs me."

Kili was astounded, and even Fili, Bofur, and Oin had ceased all movement as they observed what was going on. Legolas lowered his eyes to his feet. Tauriel remained firm, even until Legolas' eyes met hers again. Nothing could be heard except for the clamoring of the people around them and the lapping of the water onto the shore beneath them. Neither of them spoke. Finally, Legolas conceded.

"Very well. Do what you must."

"What will you do?" Tauriel asked.

Legolas spoke in Elvish. "I will investigate Gundabad. I have no doubt that it will have a part to play in the days to come."

"I wish you good luck," Tauriel said in Elvish. "Be careful, my lord."

She closed her right hand into a fist and pressed it to her chest over her heart, saluting her superior. Legolas did the same, tilting his head down as well. He turned on his heel and departed, not once recognizing Kili or the other dwarves. Tauriel watched him until he was out of sight. Then, she turned back to Kili. He rushed up to her and took her hands in his. She gasped as he did.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked. "They are your people."

He repeated her words, realizing that he hadn't thought this through as much as she had. For a moment, he believed that he had asked too much of her. Tauriel, however, nodded and smiled.

"I know," she replied. "But yes, I'm sure. I want to listen to my heart this time. I want to go with you, Kili… if you will have me."

Kili grinned, feeling the happiest that he ever had in his entire life. He had no idea what would come, but with Tauriel by his side, he felt invincible. He moved his hands to where his palms pressed against hers. Her smile grew just a little wider as their fingers intertwined.

"Absolutely," Kili said.

He dropped one hand to his side, but he kept the other entwined with Tauriel's. Her cheeks became warm as they walked together toward the boat. At Bard's house, when Kili was cured, he had reached for her hand. She should have taken it then. He had asked if she could have loved him. She should have said that she did. Tauriel loved him. She didn't care that elves and dwarves had long been adversaries. She held Kili's hand as she should have done back in Laketown. Side by side, they approached Fili, Bofur, and Oin. Kili stepped slightly in front of Tauriel, and Fili did the same with Bofur and Oin. The two brothers stood before one another and looked at each other. Fili scoffed.

"I suppose that talking you out of this would be meaningless."

Kili smirked. "It would."

Fili returned the gesture, but his smile fell when he turned to Tauriel. Fili bowed slightly, much to everyone's surprise. When he straightened up again, he made eye contact with Tauriel.

"I never thanked you for saving my brother's life," he told her. "None of us did."

Bofur and Oin glanced at each other, and Kili looked at Fili. They all seemed to realize what Fili had, except just a moment too late. Bofur and Oin scrambled to bow to Tauriel, and Kili brought her hand up to his lips. He kissed her knuckles and rested his forehead on them. Tauriel blinked quickly to avoid tears. She even laughed a little.

"Thank you," Fili, Bofur, and Oin said in tandem.

"Thank you…" Kili whispered.

"Of course," Tauriel said. "I did what I had to."

Kili raised his head, tears swimming in his own eyes. He shut them tightly and opened them again to let them dry. He grasped Tauriel's hand as he gazed at Fili. The brothers had agreed when they were children that Fili was the more intelligent of the two of them. Kili hadn't even thought to thank Tauriel for saving his life, despite the number of occasions that she had done so. He felt rather silly that Fili had to be the one to mention it, but he was also grateful that Fili did. Kili smiled at his older brother, but Fili didn't do the same. Kili's smile faded.

"Thorin'll never approve," Fili said. "You know that, right?"

Tauriel felt the sting from Fili's comment, yet she knew that he meant nothing personal by it. She wouldn't let the pain show in her features. He was simply stating a fact. Just as dwarves were forbidden from Mirkwood, Tauriel imagined that elves were forbidden from Erebor. Kili would be bringing her there regardless. And the hatred between dwarves and elves ran deeply, including between this troop of dwarves and her fellow wood-elves.

"I'll deal with him when the time comes," Kili responded.

Fili nodded, knowing that arguing with his brother would be pointless. He turned back to the boat and hopped inside. Observing him do so, Bofur and Oin followed. Kili used his hand to guide Tauriel into the boat before him, and he remained on the shore to make the final push onto the lake. He climbed into the boat next to Tauriel as the group sailed forward. The four dwarves took up oars and rowed the boat at a steady pace. If there had been another oar, Tauriel would've helped them. But instead, she sat with her arms folded in her lap. She stared out over the water of the lake and back toward Laketown. The smoke had settled on the water like a fog, completely shrouding the town. Then, Tauriel looked in the direction that the boat was headed, the direction in which Erebor lay. Kili paused from rowing to sit next to her.

"You have all put yourselves at terrible risk, allowing me to accompany you," she said.

Kili held an oar in one hand and placed his other on top of hers.

"It's a risk that we're willing to take," Kili assured her.

"Don't you worry, lass," Bofur added. "We owe you a great debt for what you've done for Kili. Thorin'll understand that. As Kili's uncle and our king, he won't do any of us harm. I've no doubt about it."

Kili watched Bofur. It had been the first time that he spoke since the attack on Laketown, and usually, he was the loudest and most talkative dwarf of the bunch. He was the most enthusiastic, too, always looking on the bright side of many situations. So Kili appreciated what he said to put Tauriel and himself at ease. At the same time, though, Kili could tell that Fili wasn't as sure. Fili continued to row, his eyes set straight on the path before them. Kili figured that his brother probably knew Thorin better than the rest of the troop, and he could guess what Fili was thinking: now that Thorin was back in Erebor, he wouldn't owe anyone anything. But Kili wouldn't let that deter him. He wrapped his fingers around Tauriel's hand.

"It'll be fine," he told her. "I'll make sure of it."

He stood up in the boat to continue rowing again, yet Tauriel had grabbed hold of his hand. He faced her as she got to her feet and took the oar into her own hands. She smiled gently at him. She didn't want to be a burden to them.

"Please, allow me," she said.

Kili smiled as Tauriel sat back down and hovered the oar over the water. He took his place next to her when she began to row with the other dwarves. At first, he felt kind of bad that he had let her take over his work. She had already done so much for him. However, it would be his turn very soon. He would have to defend her against Thorin, and that would be no easy task. But he would do what he had to in order to be with Tauriel… just as she had done for him.