A/N I'm rather new to this fandom, so please excuse any ooc characters and inaccuracies. I did my best to keep them to a minimum, but please feel free to correct any errors if you find them.
It was like a bad dream, Tauriel watched in horror as the massive, hideous orc grinned, plunging the sharpened end of his mace downwards. She was mortified, she tried to scream, but she couldn't get enough air. It was like there was a band constricting around her chest, crushing her lungs. Kili, the dwarf she had fallen so terribly for, was dead in its arms. As she saw the fire leave the mans eyes, it ignited something within her. She felt a terrible, all-consuming rage run through her veins. Nothing hurt, none of the scrapes and bruises mattered now. Tauriel stood quickly, throwing herself at the orc. Using the brute's strength against it, she swung around its head. She landed on one of the boulders briefly, before throwing her full weight against the orc, throwing the two of them off the edge of the fort.
The flight was brief, hitting a lower level of the fort hard. The mutilated orc flew off into the distance, and that was the last Tauriel saw before her vision went black.
"Kili." Tauriel gasped, opening her eyes. She took in her surroundings. The elf was laying on a bed of pine needles in the shade of a tree. Feeling her bones ache, and her head pound, she rolled her head to the right. There stood a very large eagle. As she looked, the eagle walked closer, moving its head to get a better look at her.
"You are safe from harm," It rumbled. "The one beside you however, needs your aid."
Tauriel's head snapped to the side, where she saw Kili a few feet away. He had a sheen of sweat on his face, and his face was twisted with pain.
"Kili," She breathed, moving to his side as quickly as she could. She looked at his wound and felt a terrible weight settle in her chest. She was too weak, and the wound was too large for her to heal.
Tauriel had never felt so lost in her life. She her head to look back at the eagle. "What do I do?" The elf asked, tears streaming down her face.
"The elves of Rivendell may be able to save the dwarf." It answered, "They are his only hope."
"He will die before we could reach rivendell!" She argued, "There must be another way!"
"You must keep him alive. I will take you to Rivendell if you will allow me." The eagle offered.
"What of the wizard Gandalf, or Thranduil? Will they not save Kili?" She asked, begging for an alternative. She was not sure she had the ability to keep him alive that long.
"Neither has the strength nor the ability to save the dwarf. He must make it to Rivendell."
Taking a deep breath, Tauriel focused on Kili, She had saved him before, and she would do everything in her power to do it again. After a moments thought, she knew that there would be only one hope for the dwarf. "Athelas," She whispered, pushing herself to her feet. The herb would not be able to heal him completely, but it would keep him alive long enough to get to Rivendell.
Tauriel ignored the deep ache in her muscles as she moved across the forest floor. There was plenty of light streaming in through the branches above her head, easing her hunt for the plant. She moved quickly, scanning the underbrush until she found a small patch to the plant. Taking her dagger, she cut the plant low, taking as much as she could find.
The elf moved quickly back to Kili and the eagle, wincing at the pain in her chest. Each breath was painful, and she could feel at least two broken ribs. She knew though, that if Kili survived, every bit of this pain would be worth it.
As she came around the trunk of the large pine, her eyes came to rest on Kili. His breath was coming in ragged gasps and he was groaning in pain. Tauriel hurried forward, doing her best to ignore the pain. She dropped to her knees in front of him, "You will not die Kili, not now." She whispered, crushing a handful of Athelas between her fingers.
Taking a deep breath, she pressed the sticky leaf against his wound. She began to sing the words of healing. As she sang, she could feel her strength flagging, but she continued on, seeing the wound begin to close. It wasn't long until she had to release the spell.
Tauriel's hands were shaking and she could barely keep her head up, but Kili's breathing had evened out, and his face was no longer twisted in pain. Tauriel turned to face the eagle, "Please, take us to Rivendell. I beg you." She
"Lift the dwarf onto my back, we must make haste to the city if the he is to live." The eagle spoke, dipping its back to allow the pair access.
Tauriel moved carefully, slipping her arms under Kili's limp body. Mustering her little remaining strength, she stood, pulling the limp dwarf up with her. She stumbled to the eagles side, heaving Kili onto its back. Breathing heavily Tauriel leapt up after him onto the feathered back.
"Thank you great eagle, You have given me hope when I had none." Tauriel whispered, shifting Kili to rest safely on the creatures back.
"He is not safe yet." The great bird stated before spreading its wings and launching into the sky.
Tauriel clung tightly to the eagle's back, her hair whipping in the wind. Kili was laying before her, she had an arm around his chest, keeping him safe. She looked down at him, taking in the features of his face yet again. His normally joyful, bright face was now pale and tired.
Tauriel felt a warm tear roll down her cheek, and her shoulders began to shake. Kili, her beloved dwarf, was dying in her arms, and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She pulled him closer, resting her head against the dwarfs.
"Please," She whispered into his ear, "do not die Kili. I need you."
There was no response from the dwarf in her arms. Tauriel closed her eyes, feeling her hope start to fall. All she could do was wait and hope that they would arrive at Rivendell before it was too late.
Through out the entire ride, Tauriel had been healing her broken bones bit by bit. She used small amounts of healing magic and spaced them out over a long period of time. It did not cause too much strain on her, and she was finally able to breathe regularly again.
She looked down over the wing of the great eagle. Tauriel noticed that it began to descend into the mirkwood. The sun was long set, and the sky was cloudless. Tauriel looked up above at the stars she loved. All of those months ago, she had sat with Kili, speaking of stars and fire moons. She smiled sadly, she had told him how stars were memories, and these were bittersweet.
Times were simpler before the dwarves came, but they were lonely. She had been in Thranduil's care for six hundred years, after she was left orphaned and alone in the mirkwood. A pack of orcs had slaughtered her parents, she would have died as well if it was not for a patrol of woodland elves. She remembered running and hiding, nestling herself among the roots of one of the great oaks. She was young and afraid, but Thranduil and Legolas were there, offering her safety and a family.
Tauriel found herself looking down at Kili's strong face. He had saved the elf from herself, and the trappings of the elf kingdom. He helped her remember what it was like to live life for herself.
The two were jolted slightly as the eagle landed. It was a small clearing on the bank of the forest river. Moving slowly and carefully, the eagle lowered its back, signaling Tauriel to remove herself and Kili.
Tauriel dropped to ground, turning and pulling Kili off the eagle and into her arms. She moved to one of the trees, laying Kili down carefully.
"Thank you, great eagle." Tauriel stated, turning to face it. "I do not know how to repay you for helping Kili and myself."
"I have not done this for you." It responded, shifting its wings against its side. "I have helped you with the request of my lady."
Tauriel's eyes widened slightly with shock. "You do not mean that Galadriel has sent you?"
The eagle nodded slowly.
"Why did she send you?" Tauriel asked, moving closer to the massive creature.
"That is for you to discover yourself." It moved into the middle of the clearing, settling and closing its eyes.
Tauriel turned back to Kili, letting the eagle rest. She knew that the two needed food, and Kili would need more Athelas. "I will return shortly." She stated, running off into the wood.
Tauriel returned to the clearing as quickly as she could, but she had been away longer than she would have liked. She was relieved to see Kili still resting quietly beneath the tree and the eagle sleeping in the clearing. Her hunt had been successful, two rabbits, a pouch full of berries, and a good amount Athelas.
She walked quickly to the eagle, laying the rabbits before it as a gesture of gratitude. She rushed over to Kili, checking again that he was alive. The elf was surprised when Kili opened his eyes, looking up at her.
"Tauriel." He breathed weakly, staring up at her.
Tauriel's heart leapt to her throat, she had so much she wanted to say to him, but the words wouldn't come to her. He was alive, he was conscious, and they were only days away from their destination. She squeezed his hand gently, fighting back tears. "You need to rest." She choked out.
Kili continued to stare up at her, "I'm dying Tauriel, I can feel it." He mumbled.
"No." She argued, shaking her head. "I need you Kili, you can't die."
He chuckled softly, leading to a series of painful coughs. "You don't need a dwarf, not one like me." He smiled painfully at her.
Tauriel looked sadly at him "You're right, I don't need a dwarf. I need you. I am going to get you water. Please, stay still." Tauriel moved quickly, untying the waterskin at his hip and rushing to the river. She emptied what little was left inside on the grassy bank. She filled it and emptied it a few times to get the stale water out.
When she returned to him, his eyes were half-way shut. Tauriel placed a hand on his face, opening his mouth. "Drink this." She commanded, pouring a small amount of water in his mouth. She smiled as he swallowed the water. She did this a few more times before putting the plug back in the mouth of the waterskin. "You're not going to die Kili, I won't let you."
"There's something I learned long ago." Kili croaked, taking her hand in his own. "Nothing can stop death." He squeezed her hand softly, a tear falling from his eye. "But I will try, for you."
Tauriel smiled tightly, feeling her eyes water. "Rest Kili, you need your strength." She managed to choke out.
He closed his eyes quickly, relaxing his light grip on her hand. It was clear that their brief talk had exhausted him. It did not take long for his breathing to slow.
Tauriel leaned against the trunk of the tree and began crushing a handful of Athelas. She hated to see him like this, weak and sad. It was not right, and she would do everything possible to help him.
Holding her hands on the large wound, she began to sing softly. Kili's wound was too great for her to heal completely. It was too large for her to be able to repair, but she could keep it clean, and prevent any more harm. It was not much, but she hoped it would be enough.
When she was done with what she could do, Tauriel made her way down to the river, washing her hands clean of the leaf paste. She sat there for a time, listening to the rushing water and the creaking branches. When she was sure that the forest was quiet, she returned to kili's side. There she sat, to keep watch over him.
A rustling of feathers and a loud snap of a beak brought Tauriel out of her meditation. The eagle had awoken, and was snapping up the rabbits. The sky was still pink with morning light.
"Come, elf, it is time we leave this place." The bird called, moving closer to the two.
Taurel nodded. She tied the waterskin back onto Kili's side and placed the Athelas in her empty quiver. She moved to Kili's side, pulling him up and carrying him to the bird. Once she had arranged both of them on the birds back, the eagle very quickly took to the sky.
