For the record, Oin and Bofur are outside the whole time (well, after Tauriel heals Kili they exit the house)... Doing dwarve-ish things while Fili is inside the house with Tauriel and Kili (thought I should clear this out).

I do not own the characters! I just wrote this because Kiliel wouldn't leave me alone... I doubt they ever will though.

The earth beneath him is spinning restlessly, his head feels heavy and fogged… he cannot severe one thought from another and there is this haziness surrounding him, making him feel as if he were fading slowly into stardust. The voice inside his head sounds like his own no more, it is darker now and he wanders like a pilgrim in a universe he no longer recognizes. Everything is growing obscurer with every passing instant, and the numbness about him increases too. Is he finally going to die? Is this the end of his short, yet longer than many others, life? His lifespan could not come closer to the one of the Elves, but he could endure and live more than humans… He'd wanted to do so many things, but now as the lights wane, he accepts his destiny. His fate holds no salvation for him this time.

He is aware he is in pain, but his mind does not seem to care anymore, the aching produced by the poison now seems a folly circumstance. Then he hears a beautiful voice, followed by a searing pain that could tear him to shreds. Attempting to fight it was useless, he was being held and the voice wouldn't stop chanting. When he opens his eyes he sees light, all the darkness succumbs slowly and he feels bewildered as ever.

Tauriel.

She was far away from him.

She walks in starlight, in another world.

She couldn't be there, she was not real.

"Do you think she could have ever loved me?"

He heard himself speak as he vaguely held onto her hand… the touch smooth and warm, giving him enough strength to keep fighting even as he closed his eyes and fell into an uneasy sleep.

Tauriel stared at the young dwarf resting before her, he still looked ill and weak but his cheeks were turning pink again. He was slowly coming back to the light, to life… to her.

In the depths of her soul she knew things would not remain the same after this, she had made a choice. She had chosen him over Legolas, over Thranduil. She was trying to pull herself together, trying to convince herself this was not as important as it seemed, but as soon as she laid eyes on him again, Tauriel knew he was her kindred spirit. Being the elf she was, Tauriel strongly believed in those things.

The panic that had taken over her when she heard the orc explaining how the Morgul poisoned shaft had hit him had been the first sign that something queer was going on.

The utter need to save him and be with him overpassed her normal standards. That's how it all had started, after all, her saving him.

"My brother, is he going to be fine?" she had once eavesdropped on their conversations, had wanted to know his name. Thanks to that she now knew many of the other dwarf's names, and if her sharp memory didn't betray her, this one was Fili. The concerned look in his gentle eyes resembled the one Tauriel swore she had possessed at some point in that night. So she dedicated him a small smile and nodded.

"I certainly hope so" she answered with simplicity and honesty. Tauriel walked away from the table and passed through the door, going outside. The air inside the house felt heavy, and the remaining disaster of their fight could only remind her of the mess inside her mind and the turmoil within her heart.

Lake-town appeared macabrely peaceful, and even as she roamed her eyes along the city, she could see no trace of orcs or Legolas.

"What are you really doing here?" Fili's voice came from behind her, stopping her mind from unweaving any further.

Tauriel turned around slowly and looked at the dwarf with curiosity.

"I do not wish to disturb you with my presence, I shall leave if I am unwanted" her voice was flat, as she spoke she gave the dwarf a stern look and approached him so wouldn't have to rise her voice any further.

Her behavior was the one of a fool, but she indeed knew the meaning behind Fili's words and she couldn't afford to have that conversation just there and then. Tauriel ignored the dwarf standing in the doorway and placed her eyes straight on the inside of the house, where her bow and other weapons rested.

She had all the intention to leave, but she needed to get inside and grab them. There was not a possibility she'd leave unarmed. She sighed, avoiding the upcoming chat was almost impossible.

"Forgive me, that was not what I meant," Fili stated "what I'm trying to say is that I do not really believe you came here just by chance, chasing the orcs…" he left the sentence lingering in the air for a few seconds.

"What other reason would I have to be here other than that one?" truth. The orcs were a reason, but they were not the most important one.

"Kili," he bluntly said "you either saw him getting hit by the arrow or you heard of it later, I am sure. But do you really care for him, or did you act just based on your curiosity?"

Tauriel felt offended.

"Curiosity? I've got centuries of lore stored in my head, thousands of lessons lie within my heart. If I had just wished to keep learning about fire moons and runes, I would've gone to the next dwarf who crossed my path. Do not dare to question my intentions, for I really care about him"

She had been shouting without even noticing it. Tauriel regained her composure and walked back inside without even touching Fili.

"I'll be here when he wakes up" Tauriel grabbed a chair and placed it next to the table; she sat then and rested her elbows on the wooden surface. She felt hypnotized by the way his chest moved up and down as he breathed.

Tauriel looked at his face and shivered whenever she saw his eyelids fluttering, Kili was probably having a bad dream and she wished she could fight his monsters away… but she couldn't, so she just stretched her arm and held his hand. His face relaxed immediately.

Fili might be standing right behind her, but she couldn't come to care about whatever he may think, the only one she ought to prove something was herself and Kili. Tauriel leaned forward and rested her head on his lower stomach, listening to the echoes of his heartbeat, the simple sound soothed her and she closed her eyes. She dreamt of starlight and fire moons…

"Tauriel?" a voice called out for her and she snapped her eyes open, lifting her head off him fearing she might have troubled his breathing.

Kili's gentle brown eyes were open and focused on her. Tauriel looked about her and realized it was only the two of them; where could his brother be? She was still holding his hand and fixed her eyes on him again when she felt him squeezing her hand.

"You're awake… you're awake" she uttered as she moved her hands to cup his face between them.

"You saved me, you looked so bright it hurt…" Kili smiled and moved his right hand over Tauriel's, he leaned further into her touch "But I fear you might be trouble, my dear elven-maid, I've been facing death ever since we met, you can only save me so many times…"

Tauriel laughed silently.

"Dwarves and elves make a queer combination, but we function just fine. I'll be here to save you whenever it is necessary"

Kili never stopped smiling at her. He then tried to sit up, and accomplished his objective after struggling a little. Now his face was in level with Tauriel's and she looked at him with tenderness.

"Would you answer my question now?" he asked.

Yes, yes I could love you.

I would love you.

I love you already.

The thought itself scared her, so Tauriel just leaned into him and pressed her lips to his. Kili's lips were dry and chapped, but they felt good against hers. Tauriel felt his hand in the back of her head, urging her towards him and she just let go of all control, she let him guide her. Their mouths melded together, moving in perfect synchronicity and she couldn't help but sighing into the kiss, she could taste the remaining darkness in Kili, and was glad to finally do something for him and fight it off with her loving kisses. She was desperate for more, but she knew that was neither the time nor the place.

Kili seemed to share her thoughts and he slowly pulled away. Tauriel didn't know when she had placed her hands on his shoulders but she didn't move them when they parted, they just kept still, looking into each other's eyes for what felt like ages.

Seconds after that Bofur, Oin and Fili appeared in the doorway. Kili looked at their scared faces and Tauriel turned around to find them struggling with words, until Bofur finally managed to say something.

"Smaug is coming"