"It's time to let go, Lassie."
Tauriel looked up at the grey haired Dwarf, as he was their spokesman. "I… can't. Please…" Her bloodied hand clutched at the chain mail covering Kili's lifeless arm. The warmth had left him, leaving the metal cool under her palm.
"Kili's gone. He'll be raising a pint, now, with his brother and his father and the rest of our kin." He put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure he'll want to be laid to rest beside his brother. It's our way, to return the empty vessel to the ground, when we've finished our time in it."
She nodded, because Tauriel knew this. Burying the dead wasn't a custom Dwarves shared with the Eldar, but then nothing was, it seemed. "I… loved him. It was only for a moment…"
"I know you did, and more importantly, young Kili knew. You saved his life at least once, and we are grateful to you for every extra hour we had with him, lass. I fear it has cost you dearly…" His eyes went to where the Prince and a few of Thranduil's guard stood trying not to watch their kinswoman break from her grief, far enough away, at least, to give the illusion of privacy, if not the reality.
The red-haired Elf whimpered, "I couldn't save him this time." The words were choked with a new sob.
"You did what you could do, young Tauriel, and it is all any can ask of you." He smiled, "More than we should have asked, considering your King." His fingers traced the tears on her cheek. "You gave him a gift, knowing what it feels to love and be loved in return, before he met his end."
Tauriel nodded. "It hurts."
"Aye, it does, at that. But it is a wonder, too. I've never heard of a Dwarf and an Elfkind exchanging hearts, and I doubt I ever will, again, at that. But it is a story worthy of passing on to the next generation, because it offers hope that our peoples' may someday bridge the chasm time and hard feelings have carved between our races."
The Dwarf motioned for the others to come forward. One of them handed him a bundle of leather and steel, Kili's daggers. He offered them in turn to Tauriel. "It is our tradition when a husband dies, to give the widow his daggers. Most pass them on to their bairn, when and if they have them."
Tauriel looked at the daggers and then at the Dwarves, "I wasn't his wife."
"There isn't one among our company, or any of the decedents of Durin who is going to quibble about such a small detail today. What you were is enough for us to consider you kin."
Four of the Dwarves lifted Kili from her lap and placed his body gently on a wooden cart.
The old Dwarf placed a small chest on her lap in the place Kili's head had rested seconds before. Tauriel stared at it, numbly, so he opened the lid for her.
Inside was a mound of shining golden coins and jewels in a rainbow of colors. The outermost shining like pure, white stars.
Her brows grew together in confusion, and then anger.
"Now, before you go getting all grumpy and refusing to take the chest, hear me out, Lassie." He lifted a ring from the top of the gems and placed it in her hand. The stone was a square cut emerald as big as the nail on her thumb. "Dwarves are stubborn and loud and hard headed, and Elves see us as uncivilized, but there is one thing none can deny, and it is that we take care of our own. As Kili's one and only true love, you've earned his share of Erebor. You'll take it. Or we'll be deeply offended." He smiled at her, "And there is only one thing worse than an offended Dwarf… and it is ten offended Dwarves."
The other Dwarves laughed and nodded their agreement.
"I don't know what to say," Tauriel whispered.
"Nothing to say, really. Pretty much said it all, except that you are welcome in the Halls of Erebor, anytime. You may need a place to live for a while when the dust settles. And if you should ever need aid, we'll come."
He gave her one last pat on the shoulder, a consoling gesture that conveyed a hundred different things, and he turned to follow the somber procession of Dwarves taking Kili away to be prepared for burial.
Tauriel wept, but it wasn't as much for Kili as for herself. He was in a better place, a happy place, surrounded by people who loved him, and where no weapon could ever touch him, again. She was alone, despite the other Eldar nearby, and afraid.
It felt as if every inch of her was bruised and throbbed with agonizing pain. When she finally tried to stand, Tauriel found she couldn't manage it. The world swam and tilted and grew dark at the edges of her vision. She sank back to her knees and the blackness rose up and took her.