His mouth was moving even as he reevaluated what he wanted to say. He told
her that the light of the stars was cold and far away, but he looked at her
with eyes bright and shining; i t was as if a star had fallen to stand in
front of his face, the imagery only encouraged by the way her eyes sparked
in defense of what could very well be her kin.
"It is memory!" she protested. "Precious, and pure..." She looked away for
a moment, smiling a little when she looked back to Kili. Even her smallest
of smiles fairly took his breath from his lungs. "Like your promise." She
held out her hand, offering his promise-stone, and he took it from her,
chest tightening when their fingers brushed.
Tuariel must not have noticed, though, turning her face up and away toward
the sounds of feasting they'd heard earlier, speaking of starlight again.
The passion in every line of her body spoke to him, urging him to return to
the present with his own story of something beautiful; watching her, he was
inspired and spoke of fire-moons, waxing poetic and describing every moment
of it. He wasn't entirely sure of what he was saying, only that his
greatest reward was the intrigued look in her eyes as she sat down on the
step, bringing their faces level as she hung on his every word.
They talked long into the night, trading stories and questions as they came.
Kili had not felt so at home for a very long time.
