Hello all, this will be my second story within the Hobbit genre.

I guess I need to make you all aware of a few things about this story. It takes place around the time that the dwarves first arrived in Erebor and Thorin's mind is slipping into deeper darkness. I am taking liberties with the plot of the movie because I have my own journey that I want to take these characters on. I will incorporate the movie along with my story line though.

I also need to point out that this begins as a Kili/Tauriel story, but as I am Thorin girl...it will eventually become a Thorin/Tauriel story.

I have made Tauriel a bit younger in this story to play on her impulsiveness and her behavior of reacting to her emotions instead of using wisdom as an older elf would. I have also made her shorter, just because I wanted too. Evangeline is 5'4...my Tauriel is 5'1. Also, Thorin was not exactly the right size in the movie...I read that J.R.R. wrote his as 5'4, so he will be a wee bit taller in this story, at 5'5.

Thranduil will be a mixture of his character in the movie and the book. I always felt that he was almost parental with Tauriel in the movie and so he will be in this story.

Thanks for reading this and giving it a shot!

This is a AU fic :)

Thorin will be a bit creeepy at first :)

Chapter One

Tauriel did not feel his presence behind her. She called once more for Kili before she was grabbed from behind and shoved roughly into the stone wall. Her attacker had grabbed her and held her around her middle pinning her arms to her sides and with his other hand, her held her face to the side against the stone. Whoever it was, he was very strong and she could feel that his hands were large.

"What are you doing in my Kingdom, elf?" the dwarf spat.

She recognized the voice of Thorin Oakenshield. Though she was perturbed at her current situation, she was relieved to hear his voice. He would be able to tell her where Kili was. When she did not answer him right away, he released her middle and grabbed her shoulders, swinging her around to face him and shoved her back against the wall. When she noticed that he held a dagger in his left hand, the relief she felt turned to a sense of self preservation.

Stronger he might be, but he was no match for her elvish reflexes. She brought her knee up, but instead of hitting him in the groin, she slammed into his thigh. She looked up into his face, not realizing how tall Thorin truly was. He was four inches taller than her and she had thought Kili tall for a dwarf. But then, she was rather small for an elf, so it seemed anomalies were present in every race.

He grunted from the blow to his inner thigh and she used that moment to shove against him with her body weight. It was similar to shoving against a stone wall, but since he was momentarily startled, she was able to gracefully turn away from him.

She pulled her dagger from its sheath and turned to face him. Angry blue eyes as hard as flint stared into her warm, deep set brown eyes. "I asked you a question, elfling…" Thorin spat. "What are you doing in Erebor? Is Thranduil such a coward that he would send a female to carry out his thievery?"

Tauriel bristled at both the hatred in his voice and the fact that he had spat the word female as if it had left a bitter taste in his mouth, as if she would be no threat because of her gender. She swallowed down the indignation she felt to ponder his hatred. She had never understood why elves and dwarves hated each other so very much. She huffed annoyed and impatiently. "I am looking for Kili," she said. "Where is he? Is he alright? Does his leg still trouble him?"

Surprise registered in Thorin's eyes for only a moment until he remembered the hours that he and his party had spent in the dungeons of Mirkwood. Kili and this she elf had spent hours talking and enjoying each other's company. He started to answer her, but the madness that had taken hold of his mind since coming into Erebor stirred again.

She's lying…she's here for the white gems…take her…hold her captive…you would have much sway over the Elvin King then…

"Are you well?" she asked him with concern in her voice. "You seem confused…" she finished softly for the look that came over his face caused her even more alarm. She began to curse herself for her impulsiveness. Her King and adopted father had chastised her repeatedly over her impulsive nature. Even when she was but small child clutching to his robes as she followed him constantly around the halls of his Kingdom.

She had entered this strange mountain completely alone and had not told Legolas where she was going for fear he would try and stop her. Now she was faced with this formidable Dwarf who may or may not be in his right mind. She spoke again, very gently. "Can you not tell me if Kili is well? This is all I wish to know and then I will leave you in peace."

"Tauriel?" A male voice called from behind her. Kili stepped towards her, his eyes warily on his uncle.

Her posture relaxed upon seeing him and she made the mistake of lowering her arm that held her dagger and turned her body towards him. Thorin was on her in a flash, knocking her to the ground. His greater weight knocked the air from her lungs.

"Uncle!" Kili shouted running towards them. "Fili…help me!"

Tauriel managed to wrench one of her wrists from Thorin's grasp and backhanded him hard. His head snapped with the blow, but when he looked back down at her she did not see anger in his eyes…she saw amusement. This infuriated her and she thrashed wildly underneath him.

"Is this Thranduil's greatest warrior?" Thorin taunted. "This small elfling is Captain of his formidable guard?"

Kili grabbed hold of Thorin, but his Uncle used one hand to shove him away. When he did so, he leaned away from Tauriel and she delivered a punishing knee to his side. Thorin grunted and winced, turning his attention and his annoyance back to the struggling she elf. "Touché elf," he said wryly. "I will not turn my face or back from you in the future." He pinned her wrists above her head and Tauriel thought his mind seemed to clear because his eyes were no longer angry or suspicious. But still he did not release her.

"Are you mad Uncle?" Kili asked horrified. "She is my friend…she saved me from certain death, from the poison of the orcs arrow. Why are you attacking her?"

In that instant, Thorin's expression changed. His eyes became guarded and his smile turned into a grim line. He tightened his grip on her wrists to the point of pain, but she said nothing. She stared at him defiantly. Thorin's blinked several times and his brow creased. He shook his head as if he were trying to clear a fog.

"Thorin!" Kili shouted. "Let her go! She is not our enemy."

Thorin's expression became savage as he glared at his nephew. "Don't be a fool, Kili," Thorin snapped. "Can you not see she is false? Her King has sent her into Erebor under false pretenses. She comes in and tries to woo you with her beauty while she robs us blind. She only wants her Lord's jewels…she cares nothing for you."

Fili and Balin entered the hall and ran forward. "What is this?" Fili asked. "Uncle, why do you attack Tauriel?"

"Has she taken all of you under her spell?" Thorin roared. "Since when are we on a proper name basis with her kind?" He sneered. "She tries to steal from me and yet you all show her such care and concern. I should have her in irons and hang her from these walls!"

"I am doing no such thing you…you…you big oaf," she snapped, still squirming underneath him. "Get off me this instant! I am here for your nephew, no other reason!"

"Uncle, release her…now," Kili said trying to keep the angry hiss from his voice.

"His mind is gone," Tauriel snapped. "He's mad and will lead you all into peril!"

"Be silent," Thorin roared. "You know nothing!"

Fili, Kili, and Balin grabbed Thorin and with a great heave, managed to pry him from Tauriel, but he did not release his hold on her wrists, she ended up being dragged a few feet before he was forced to let go of her.

Tauriel was on her feet in one graceful move and whirled to face Thorin. "Are you truly so blind that you cannot see what is happening to you here?" she asked incredulously. "Can you not feel the change come upon you?"

"Get out," Thorin snapped. "And tell your King that he should face me as a man…not send his elvish children to do his work!"

Tauriel's eyes narrowed. "I am older than you by nearly two centuries," she snapped.

"And yet because you are elf kind, you are little more than a child while I am a grown man," he taunted. "How desperate is your King that he would send someone so impulsive and inexperienced to rob me?"

Tauriel bristled again. She was so tired of having to prove herself to everyone, much less this morose, self pitying dwarf. "I have a century of battle experience to…"

"The inexperience that I was referring to has nothing to do with battle, elfling," Thorin said in a silky voice as his eyes racked her over.

"Uncle!" Fili and Kili called out horrified.

Balin tightened his grip on Thorin's arm and spoke. "Do not speak in such a way to a lady…Thorin, we are better than that. We offer respect where it is due, even to our enemies."

Tauriel started to react but realized Thorin was purposely taunting her and wanted her to react. She was mortified as she felt the angry flush begin to creep up her neck and over her cheeks. The flush seemed to want to give merit to the dwarf King's words…to offer proof of her lack of life experience and her innocence. She found strength in the fact that the other three dwarves seemed to be on her side. She swallowed hard and decided to respond only to the second remark the dwarf King made.

"I am not here to rob you dwarf," she spat out. "I came on behalf of the welfare of your nephew. And…" she paused, feeling more vulnerable and foolish because by admitting this, she would give merit to just how impulsive she truly was. "My King does not know I am here…so how could he have sent me to rob you?" she finished softly.

Kili's eyes widened. He understood the enormity of her statement. "King Thranduil does not know you are here?"

She shook her head. "No…he…he would not understand."

"And the King's son?" Balin asked.

"He rides north to Dol Guldur in two hours' time and I will ride with him," she said. "I only came to…" she stopped and looked at Kili. "He does not know I am gone…I hope to return before he notices."

Thorin stared at her in incredulously. Why would an elf risk the wrath of her King…a King who seemed to look more on her as one of his children, if he had interpreted Thranduil's behavior correctly towards her when he and his kin had been prisoners in the elf king's dungeons? And one would have to be a blind fool to not see what Legolas felt for the she elf and yet…here she was in Erebor with him and his kin.

"What would your King do to you if he knew you were here?" Thorin asked suddenly curious.

The gentleness in his voice startled her and compelled her to answer him truthfully, though it caused her some embarrassment to do so. She swallowed and looked away. "He would…remove me from my command for as long as he saw fit and keep me within the city limits under his eye…as he has done before when I have…left the borders of our lands."

Balin smiled. "You make a habit of running away from your home?"

Tauriel did not understand how this conversation had strayed so far from what was intended. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at all four dwarves. "I am not a child and I am perfectly capable of traveling alone should I wish it. I have killed many just as you have and I would have no qualms with killing again if it meant my life."

"I meant no offense," Balin said gently.

Kili and Tauriel glanced at one another while Thorin stood quietly pondering his next move. It would seem his nephew was besotted with this she elf and if he did not know any better, he would say she was fond of his nephew. How could he keep her here so that he could use her against Thranduil without upsetting his nephew?

Thorin took a step forward and smiled though it did not reach his eyes. "Forgive me," he said to Tauriel. "I assumed you to behave in the manner of your King. I can see that I am wrong. I should be thanking you for all you did for my nephew. You are most welcome in my Kingdom," he finished looking from her to his nephew. "Take her with you Kili and show her the wonders of Erebor."

She took a step back as if uncertain. "I should return now that I know you are well," she said to Kili. "Legolas will be angry and should he tell his father…"

"Come now," Thorin pressed gently. "It will only be for a short while. You said you had nearly two hours and if you have not been missed now, the King's son must be preoccupied with something else. I am sure you would be quite safe to stay here, just a little while longer.""

Kili's face lit into a bright smile and Thorin could see her reserve fall when she smiled back at him, her eyes bright and warm for his nephew. He watched as Kili tentatively took her hand and pulled her towards him, leading her down the stone hall and out of sight. Fili followed behind them.

Thorin turned when he felt Balin's eyes upon him. "You do not plan her any harm?" The older dwarf asked.

"Of course not," Thorin lied smoothly. "She saved my nephew's life and has come in friendship to inquire after his needs. Why should I harm her?"

"Thorin…" Balin began to warn.

"Peace, Balin," Thorin said smiling. "Truly, I mean her no harm. She is welcome here."

Balin sighed and nodded, though his face showed that he did not entirely believe his friend. Thorin watched as Balin disappeared down the hall leaving him alone with his thoughts.

"If she believes for one moment that I do not know her King sent her…" Thorin said out loud to the empty hall. "I am most fortunate that he sent someone so young and easy to manipulate."

The voices in his mind talked louder and louder, causing him to shake his head and clench his eyes shut from the pain and confusion. "No!" he hissed. "I am not my grandfather…I am still Thorin Oakenshield and she…cares for my nephew. I will not harm her…"

The sickness in his mind fought back.

She is false….it hissed…she will seduce your nephews away from you…her King will come with an army to take everything from you…Thranduil is using her to destroy you…You must break her to break him…

"Yes…" Thorin whispered back. "I will break her…"

Thanks again for reading! Reviews always welcome :)