Hello there! Glad you clicked through to the next chapter. That means I made you curious for more ;-)
Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit belong to Tolkien. I only borrowed it for this fanfic. No money was made.
Have fun reading chapter 2!
Finally he was waking up. Tauriel had been sitting with him for almost an hour and he gave no sign of being conscious. When he opened his eyes, he saw her immediately.
"Tauriel…" he gasped.
"Yes Kili, I'm here" she answered.
"You came back for me." while whispering that he tried to touch her face. It was a touch of tenderness but in that touch he poured everything he felt. He lay his hand on her cheek and she wrapped her hand around his. They gazed at each other and for a moment it was only the two of them. The world stood still, there was no war, no dead, just the two of them.
Their peace was suddenly disturbed by a loud noise. It appeared to originate from above them. "What was that?" asked Kili. "I think the houses are collapsing" answered Tauriel, "we should go, it isn't save, can you stand?"
"I shall try"
Kili straightened up and tried to stand – with some help from Tauriel – but as soon as he leaned away from her support, his legs gave away immediately.
"I don't think I can do it Tauriel," he groaned, "my leg, I can't put pressure on it."
"It's okay, I'll help you." she reassured him.
"No Tauriel, it will only slow you down, we will never make it, go alone, leave me here."
"Leave you here?" she said with a questioning tone, "by the light of the Valar, are you out of your mind? I didn't risk my life to come and save you to be send away again. We're going to get out of here, together.
"But …" he grumbled.
"No protest, give your arm and put it around my neck."
Kili realized there wouldn't be a way to convince her and as a matter of fact, he didn't really want to stay behind. He had found her again – or she had found him – and he didn't want to lose her, not now. So he took her hand and she put it around her shoulder.
"The first thing we have to try is getting out of this boat and go back to the path." said Tauriel.
"Tauriel, I think you're missing something," said Kili with a little grin, "we're in a boat and that we will be the safest on the water."
It took Tauriel a moment to realize what he was saying but once she got it, she couldn't believe she had been that stupid.
"Of course," she mumbled, "we need a peddle."
"We can use my axe." Kili proposed.
"But I left in on the dock when I used it get to you." while Tauriel said that she was already throwing herself through the hole on the dock and went to grab it. Before Kili could protest, she was back again.
"Off we go then!" stated Kili.
They rowed away from under the dock and peddled through Lake Town. It was dead silent. The only thing they could hear was the boat floating over the water. They couldn't see much because the air was filled with smoke and the stench of cadavers burned in their noses.
As Tauriel rowed with Kili's axe, she suddenly felt something bumping against the axe. When she looked what it was her face filled itself with horror. The axe had touched a body that was floating. It gave her goosebumps.
Tauriel thought the town felt haunted. Although no living soul was present except for her and Kili, it still felt as if they were being watched.
They both had so many questions for each other, they just couldn't speak. There was a heavy weight on their shoulders, stopping them from talking.
As they were slowly reaching the town border, it felt like the weight was lifting. The smoke began to grow thinner and the burden was gone.
"Where should we go?" asked Kili.
"I don't know, the last thing I heard was Bard taking the Lake Town people to safety." replied Tauriel.
"Tauriel, what happened when I was gone?" Kili finally asked.
"I don't know Kili, we got separated and I couldn't find you anymore. I just couldn't turn back for you because I had to bring Bard's children to safety first. I don't know what happened to you. Only you can remember."
"I don't know either. All I remember is us getting separated. I couldn't run with my leg and that dragon was destroying everything. Everything went so fast Tauriel. All I knew at that moment was that I had to bring myself to safety. I could hear the dragon coming closer and I thought that the only safe place to be would be close to the water. I found a boat at the edge of the dock so I jumped in it and then I can't remember anything, it's all black."
"You must have fainted." answered Tauriel.
"Yes, but I heard you, you were calling for me."
"And I heard you Kili." whispered Tauriel.
They sat together in silence for a while when Kili finally asked for the dragon. Tauriel told him the story of how Bard and his son killed the dragon and saved the people.
"And my brother?" asked Kili, "Did he make it?"
"Of course Kili, your brother is strong. He helped me getting Tilda and Sigrid to safety although he blames himself for losing you and not watching out for you."
"There's no reason for that. It wasn't his fault, he knows that doesn't he?"
"I hope so Kili."
They rowed further in silence and finally reached open water.
"Look Tauriel, I see people there. They must have gone to the shore!" exclaimed Kili, "Fili will be there!"
But Tauriel realized if Fili would be there, they had to leave. Their kin was in Erebor. The dragon was dead. He would leave and she would have to stay behind. She wanted him to be happy and go to his uncle and friends but she also wanted to keep him close to her. Never lose him out of her sight again. Protect him at all costs. She felt a deep sadness. She just got him back and now she had to let him go again.
Kili realized the same. Of course he wanted to go to Erebor and see his forefathers' halls but not without her. He didn't want to leave her but he knew that his kin would never accept it. She was an elf. If he brought her with him things would go wrong and yet he wanted nothing else than to take her along.
They rowed further and finally arrived at the shore. It was swarming with people from Lake Town trying to find their family and making sure their friends were okay. Chaos was everywhere.
Tauriel helped Kili getting out of the boat. Immediately Kili started shouting his brother's name. It did not take long for Fili to come running to them. The first thing he did was check on Kili after he had embraced his brother tightly.
"Are you all right brother?" asked Fili.
"Yes Fili, I'm fine. I'm okay thanks to her, if she didn't come searching for me I think I would have been dead by now." answered Kili.
Fili looked at Tauriel and although he wasn't very fond of elves he gave her a thankful nod.
"Come one Kili, now you're here we can leave. Bofur is preparing a boat so we can go to Erebor." said Fili enthusiastic to his brother.
Kili had feared this moment would come but he wasn't sure anymore if he wanted to go. He looked at Tauriel and knew she was thinking the same.
She didn't want him to leave her. Not now. Not after what they had been through.
"Tauriel…" whispered Kili.
"They are your people, you must go." said Tauriel, her voice small and sad.
"Come with me Tauriel, I know how I feel, I'm not afraid. You make me feel alive."
"No I can't, I can't come with you Kili."
"Amrâlimê Tauriel."
This made Tauriel gasp. "I don't know what that means." but deep inside she knew. She understood what he meant.
"I think you do." said Kili with a grin on his face.
She knew what it meant, she couldn't understand the words but the way he said it, it made her feel warm inside. Slowly she moved closer to him. She bent her head a little and he straightened up. Their lips were at almost the same height now. It was Kili who closed the disctance, he stood on his tip toes and brushed his lips against hers. It was a feather light touch and ended before it began. They leaned into each other, foreheads touching. She pushed her lips against his once more and this kiss was full of passion. She savored every bit of him and then she suddenly stopped when she realized what was happening.
"We can't do this Kili," sighed Tauriel, a bit out of breath, "it is wrong. We can't be together."
While Tauriel was saying this she suddenly felt a presence behind her.
"My lord Legolas." she said quite coldly.
"Take your leave of the Dwarf. You are needed elsewhere Tauriel."
Kili didn't understand what they said because they were talking in elvish but he could understand the meaning behind the words. Tauriel's presence was needed elsewhere, and he had to go with his kin.
He nodded to her and went to the boat that stood ready to leave. When he turned back once more he looked at her face and this made him decide something. He went back to her, took her soft hand and put his runestone in it.
"Take it, as a token." and he closed her hand, enveloping it in his.
Kili looked into her eyes one more time and then turned away. Fili helped him in the boat and they rowed away.
Tauriel watched him until she couldn't see him anymore. A hand touched her shoulder, it was Legolas.
"Come Tauriel, we have other businesses to attend" he commanded.
Together they left the people of Lake Town and Erebor behind them.
End of chapter two! Hope you all liked it. I would love it if you gave me a review.
I also want to thank my bètareaders Soetkin and Stéphanie.
See you at the next chapter!
