Hey everyone, this is just a little something that came to my mind a while ago when I first heard the song "We might fall" by Ryan Star. It just screamed Kiliel! In my headcanon, Tauriel leaves Kíli in Laketown after Smaug's attack. Although she acknowledges her feelings for him, she can't be with him, kissing him on the docks of Laketown before returning to Mirkwood (penultimate chapter of "Starlit Skies"). You should know that when you read this.

This was planned as a one-shot, but as always, the story took on a course of its own. It's not quite finished yet, just a few more paragraphs to go. But in celebration of today's premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies I thought I'd share the first part with you. The rest will be posted as two seperate chapters, I think.

Lyrics (in italics) are from "We might fall" by Ryan Star.

M rated to be on the safe side when it comes to the ending ;)

We might fall

1. Nothing I have ever known has made me feel this way

The night was cold. Tiny snowflakes were dancing in the pale light of the moon as Tauriel stood with her gaze set on the huge shape of the Lonely Mountain. She had never cared much for mountains, for the cold rocks which were always covered with snow on the top. She loved the forest, the soft grass beneath her feet and the way she could see the stars peering through the trees.

But now her heart ached in a way she had never felt before when her eyes perceived the crooked top of Erebor.

Around her elven warriors were preparing for battle, gathering their weapons and waiting for orders from their king. A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered King Thranduil's fury at her return. He hadn't even needed to yell. He had spoken quietly, but every word had gone through her like a dagger. He had accused her of leaving her post, of defying his orders and setting the well-being of a simple dwarf above the safety of her own people.

Tauriel hadn't even tried to argue, for there was some truth in his words after all. She did care, cared too much, and she didn't feel ashamed.

She had risked her position in the elven guard, her king's respect and her friend's trust for someone she barely knew. A stranger with kind eyes, dark and mysterious as the forest of Mirkwood and at the same time sparkling like the frosty mountain top beneath the moon. So different from her, but with a heart as fierce and brave as hers and dreams not unlike her own.

Kíli.

She repeated the name in her head. Just a few nights ago she hadn't even known he existed. But now her heart yearned to see him again, and if there was anything she regretted it was leaving him on the docks of Lake-town without telling him of what stirred her troubled heart. She needed to know if he was alright.

She knew she ought to stay. But Tauriel had never been the most reasonable person, something her male comrades had sometimes scolded her for. The heart of an elven warrior offered no space for emotions like hers. Emotions made you weak in battle. And a battle was ahead.

It never should have come to this, Tauriel thought in despair. If she had known, she wouldn't have let him go like that. But there was still time. Taking a deep breath, the young elf tucked her dagger into her belt. She glanced around quickly to her left and right, and exhaled when she saw her comrades busying themselves with battle preparations, and taking no notice of her.

Her step was light on the earthen ground as she made for the mountain. She didn't even know what to do when she'd reach it. The gate was barricaded and most likely to be guarded. If there were any other entrances they were most probably hidden, visible only to those worthy of Erebor's treasures, which certainly didn't mean elves.

She'd cross that bridge when she'd come to it.

Silently Tauriel walked until she'd left the tents behind. Before her was a wide open plain, illuminated by the moon. She would be easy to spot there. A little to the left, though, was a small forest, not wide, but reaching almost all the way to the mountain. She headed for the tree line and quickened her pace.

"Where are you going?"

She froze mid-movement for a split second before she turned around, hand on the hilt of her dagger. It was an unnecessary precaution. There was only one elf standing before her, and that one wouldn't hurt her.

"Legolas," she spoke softly, taking in his tall, slender figure and the movement of his flawless blonde hair as he approached her with three long strides.

"We're on the brink of war, you can't go off wandering like that," the elven prince said with barely hidden concern. Their eyes locked for a moment, and Tauriel could see understanding washing over her friend's handsome face.

"Don't hold me back," she said quietly, but with determination. "I need to go."

"It's him, isn't it? The archer?"

Tauriel wasn't sure about what she found in Legolas' voice. There was a strange timbre to it, a mixture of disappointment, anger, a hint of understanding and the tiniest bit of sadness. She simply nodded.

It was foolish. Reckless. Part of her expected Legolas to order her to stay. She just didn't know what she'd do if he did. He was the king's son, after all, and she was of lower rank than him. She had risked her position once before, and she was certain that Thranduil wouldn't forgive her again.

The small voice in the back of her head told her that she shouldn't care.

Legolas eyed her for a moment. To her surprise, his lips formed a barely visible smile. It was a sad smile, though, that was mirrored by his voice.

"Do what you need to, Tauriel. But be careful. It's dangerous to go that road, and I won't always be there to aid you."

Tauriel knew he wasn't referring to the forest. Tears sprang to her eyes as she realised how much her friend had done for her in the past, and that Thranduil's forgiveness probably hadn't come without a little nudge from his son. Without thinking the redhead pulled the older one into a tight embrace.

"I will be careful, I promise. Guren glassui, mellon-nin."

When they parted it seemed as if Legolas wanted to say more, but he remained silent. He turned around and soon mingled with the darkness, leaving Tauriel alone at the edge of the forest. She entered it cautiously and allowed her eyes to adjust to the darker surroundings. The light of the moon still found its way through the treetops, but some places were completely black from the absence of light. It was different from Mirkwood, not only because of its lesser size, but mostly because of its smell. There was the freshness of living plants, the typical smell of dew on leaves, and strange fragrances from unknown flowers hidden from her eyes. Tauriel hadn't expected to find it like this, in the midst of the dragon's desolation. She inhaled deeply and for a moment felt all troubles leaving her mind.

A cracking sound startled her. Immediately Tauriel turned around to face the source of the noise, dagger raised in alarm.

"Woah, easy there!"

She froze. That voice. That subliminal grin that was audible in his tone, the way he seemed to be stifling a laugh – she would recognise it anywhere.

"Kíli?"

He appeared out of nowhere, coming out from between the trees, barely visible in the dark. He stopped only a few feet from her, and Tauriel thought she could see his eyes glinting as what little light found its way through the leaves was mirrored in his irises. Suddenly she found it hard to breathe. Everything that had happened during the past days seemed to crash around her, every moment of fear, every unspoken truth, every desperate wish to slow down time.

"What are you doing here?" she heard him ask with the slightest of quivers in his usually steady voice. "You shouldn't be out here on your own."

"Right back at you."

The words left her mouth before she had a chance to think about what to say. Tauriel could hear him chuckle for a second or two, before they were surrounded by silence. The young elf thought she could hear her heart hammering in her chest, and she wondered if Kíli felt the same way.

"I had to get away," the dwarf said quietly. "I had to get away from it all, and clear that mess in my head before it's too late. I needed to breathe some fresh air and feel free again and maybe, just maybe, find out if you're alright."

The last words were carried away by a breeze; they vanished in the cold night air but still tore at Tauriel's heart. The two young people were still standing apart, both almost invisible to each other, though Tauriel felt closer to the dark-haired archer than to anyone before. Her mind was suddenly blank, all reason gone when she stepped forward. Only a few feet, but they felt like miles until she felt Kíli's strong arms around her. She could feel the cold leather of his coat underneath her fingers as she allowed him to press her against his body. His chest was heaving against her ribcage as she lowered her head and buried her nose in the crook of his neck.

"I'm alright now," she whispered, and although her words were muffled by his cloak she thought she could see Kíli smiling at her response. She was reminded of their last goodbye at the docks of Laketown, but this was different, so different from that day. This was no goodbye. Not yet.

Tell me are we crazy, did you like the cold
Tell me are you comfortable if comfortable at all

A/N1: The title is a line from a Bryan Adams song, "Nothing I've ever known" from the Spirit soundtrack.

A/N2: Reviews make my day ;)