„Do you think she could have loved me?" Kili whispered, unaware to the blond-haired prince standing outside, listening with closed eyes.
Tauriel looked up from their intertwined hands and took a deep breath. She wasn't aware of Legolas either.
„No", Tauriel whispered. Letting go of Kilis still weak hand. He was getting better now. She saved his life.
„Why?", Kili asked, his voice weak.
„Her heart belongs to another", she answered with a sadness in her voice that can only be caused by a broken heart.
„Who?", a tear making its way down his face.
„To someone she can never have. Someone whose heart will always be far away even thought he's so near"
„What makes her think so?" Kili asked after a long silence.
Tauriel only answered him with silence. He wouldn't understand. They were from different stars. His shone brighter than hers will ever do.
„Do you think that she could have loved me if he wasn't the keeper of her heart?"
„Yes"; She said. Her hands started to shake. She wouldn't be crying. Not now. Not here.
„Will she ever be happy?" Kili asked. He was half asleep and barely missed her answer.
„No", Tauriel breathed and let a tear escape her eyes. She would never be happy.
Legolas took in a sharp breath. His mind was clouded. Who does her heart belong to?
It only cleared as he heared a sob from the inside. Tauriel.
He walked in the little house. There she was. She sat on a little chair, tears streamed down her face and she tried to stifle her sobs with a hand on her mouth. Her sign made his heart break.
„Why do you shed tears, mellon?" he whispered and walked up to were she sat.
She looked up with her eyes wide open. She had thought he had left her here.
„Legolas" she whispered. „I'm sorry. I-"
„shh", he shushed her and kneeled down in front of her. Tauriel looked down at him. She was confused. How much did he hear? What does he think now?
„Who did you mean?" he asked then and was startled when Tauriel sprang to her feet.
„That doesn't matter", she said and walked out the door. Legolas followed close.
Suddenly he grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.
„Answer me" he said, without breaking eye contact. New tears escaped Tauriels eyes.
„You", she whispered and tried to wriggle out of his too tight grasp. But he was stronger than her and held her in place.
„You love me?" Legolas couldn't believe that but she nodded.
„But that doesn't matter. Even-" he silenced her with his lips. But he broke their kiss soon because she didn't return it.
„We can never be. Your father wouldn't allow that." she said.
„I don't care. I would go to the end of the world for you. I love you", Legolas stated and captured her lips with his again. This time she returned the kiss.
After what felt like hours they broke apart. Legolas still held her close.
„Let's go home" he said and after seeing Tauriels face he added: „ And I will speak with my father."
And with that they got onto the back of Legolas horse.
Tauriel wounded her arms tight around his waist and leaned her head against his back.
„I love you", she said and they rode back home.
Maybe it didn't matter that her star will never shine as bright as his. As long as they were under the same sky, as long as they loved each other, there would be nothing to tear them apart.
