AN: I'm not exactly sure about my plans for this fic yet. It's meant to be a speculative fic based on a BOTFA AU. Arwen dealt with the same problem, but how would Tauriel cope? Is there anything she can do? Is there any hope left?

For nine score years, Tauriel and Kili walked side by side along the starlit path they had created. For nine score years, they had raised a family and their love for each other had only grown. For nine score years, Tauriel's smooth face remained unchanged by time, though Kili's beard grew long and gray and his face was marked by the passing years. Though he had always been a hale warrior and a strong, active dwarf, his strength inevitably began to fail. Tauriel had seen it coming. She always had. That didn't make it any easier when he called her to his bedside one winter day for the last farewell.

He reached out a wrinkled hand and touched Tauriel's face, whispering, "Amralime…" Tauriel shut her eyes and felt tears spilling out from underneath her closed lids. "Always walk in starlight," he told her, "even when I am gone. Do not despair. You were gifted at birth with the everlasting life of the Eldar, and I would have you spend your days joyfully remembering the brief era we were allowed to spend together."

Throat tight, Tauriel managed to gasp out, "But how can I be happy without you?"

Kili smiled. "I go to my fathers, in the Halls of Mahal. Someday you will cross the Sundering Sea to be with your people. But by the grace of your god and of mine, we will be together again someday. I promise it."

"How can I be sure?"

Kili reached out a closed fist, trembling and spotted with age. He pressed an old and familiar object into Tauriel's hand. "Keep it as a promise," he said. "We will be together again."

Tauriel wept.

Kili's breathing was shallower now; the end was near. Still he simply looked upon her face, but his expression was joyful. "How beautiful you are," he whispered. "Even after all these years, I still find it hard to believe that an angel like you could love me."

She kissed his hand. "My darling," she replied, "how could I not love you?"

Kili smiled and exhaled, slowly. It was his final breath.