A/N: Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews! As one reviewer noted, the relationship between Kili and Tauriel in this fic does not follow along the same lines as that of the films; there are different dynamics at play in this fic which call for different reactions to different circumstances, but beneath all that I hope the characters remain true(ish) to their portrayals in both film and book.
Beneath Stone and Sky
Chapter Four
In Which a Thief is Saved and a Spark Grows into a Flame
Kíli stood at the gates of Erebor, soaking in a bit of sunshine as he awaited his bride-to-be. Norí stood beside him, dressed in the fine robes of his uncle's privy council, with their guards and servants chatting quietly in the foreground while their baggage was dealt with. The servants and their belongings would travel ahead, utilizing the lifts and tram systems to descend -lifts and trams Kíli wished they might use as well so the whole ordeal might be over with all the sooner.
The morning had dawned bright and clear, birds chirping and the ravens of Erebor cawing raucously to one another; a pleasant day, inviting and peaceful, and he would rather have been almost anywhere else. Kíli had tried to see his mother the previous evening and again that morning, and still she had avoided him. It had put him in a foul mood and the last thing in the world he wanted to do was show a bunch of prissy, haughty elves around the kingdom.
Appearing bored and nearly as unwilling as he felt, the Elvenking and his entourage arrived at last. Princess Tauriel, however, was a different story. There was an undeniable bounce to the elf-maid's step and a small smile graced her lips as she walked toward them. She wore another Elven gown, deep blue and airy, as though made of the night sky and wisps of cloud as it floated and fluttered about her.
Kíli's eye was immediately drawn to the intricate weave of her hair, done in a plainly Dwarven style that emphasized the aristocratic arch of her cheekbones. Diamond studded engagement beads glistened in the sun and Kíli suddenly felt a bit warm about the collar. She looked bonny, indeed, and his palms began to sweat.
It would be easier to despise her, he reasoned grumpily, if she weren't quite so fair.
Nori stepped forward and bowed to the Elvenking, the beaded braids in his red hair clicking lightly together. "Greetings, Your Majesty. I am Lord Norí, advisor to the King and recently appointed Royal Scholar."
Princess Tauriel smiled at Norí with an odd look of recognition. "Are you perhaps brother to Orí, my lord?" she asked pleasantly.
Norí looked up at her in surprise, then smiled as he glanced behind her where Orí peeked out and waved sheepishly dressed in full armor. Kíli had wondered where his old friend had gone off to and was mildly shocked it was he who had been assigned to his future bride's safety.
"Aye, my lady, I'm afraid I must claim him as kin. Has he been treating you well?" Norí replied with the hint of a smirk.
"Well indeed, my lord, though I often wonder at the necessity of having a Dwarven guard always at my heels." There was a hint of challenge in her eye, a glimmer of spirit beneath the pretty picture she painted.
Nori shifted on his feet. "Ah well, I'm afraid that is by order of the King, and it is only for your protection, my lady, I assure you." Even Kili knew that was a load of horse shit.
The princess lifted a brow before her expression cleared. "I appreciate King Thorin's concern," she said, tone neutral, but Kíli had a sense the thread of dissatisfaction remained.
Aware he'd lapsed in his manners, Kíli cleared his throat and bowed to first the Elvenking and then to his betrothed, avoiding her eye.
"I am honored to be at your service, Your Majesty," he said with practiced ease.
King Thranduil sniffed. "I am afraid I will not be accompanying you on this little outing. I must return to my home this afternoon."
Kíli frowned, glancing beseechingly at Nori, who also looked perturbed.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty," the scholar said, "we had not heard of your departure. Perhaps we can save the official tour until your return-"
King Thranduil lifted one pale hand. "That will not be necessary. My daughter is eager to see more of her future kingdom and I see no reason why she should be made to wait."
Nori glanced at Kíli, the Elvenking, and the princess whose smile had faded and expression had become unreadable. "Well, if that is what my lord wishes-"
"Lovely," the elf king said impatiently. "Well, I must really be on my way, your King will likely wish to speak with me before my departure." Thranduil turned toward his daughter, relaying something to her in elvish which made her frown.
Two of the Elven guards, their armor intricate and gleaming, stepped forward as the princess shook her head, clearly in disagreement. The matter seemed to revolve around one of the guards in particular, a hardy looking warrior with dark hair and a scar near his left eye. The elf was looking between his king and princess with almost comical distress until at last Thranduil waved him impatiently away and another guard came nervously forth.
"What was that about?" Kíli asked Nori quietly in Khuzdul. Nori, as one of the crown's chief scholars, had studied many of Middle-earth's languages.
The other dwarf, still frowning, whispered back, "The elf King wished to leave her with two guards, there was a disagreement to which two it would be. And there was more -I ah," he shook his head, "I think I must have misunderstood the rest of it."
"What do you mean?" he pressed, watching as the princess and her father exchanged quiet farewells. Thranduil's expression had softened as he held her hands tightly in his. The sight made him feel uneasy, as though he were intruding on a private moment, and he looked away.
"She said something along the lines of - ' I am less a princess and more a captain and I beg you to listen to me this one last time. ' As I said, I must have misunderstood. It has been many years since I have spoken Sindarin with anyone of skill." Nori scratched at his long beard.
Kíli looked at his willowy, delicate bride-to-be, and considered that first day, when Thorin had announced their engagement. Recalling how she had moved like a dancer, or a fighter, and the way her hand had drifted to her side, as though looking for the comfort of a familiar weapon.
Still… Captain of the Guard and a royal princess? It seemed highly unlikely.
Kíli shrugged. Why should he care either way? He just wanted this trip done and over with.
The Elvenking made his farewells and departed with all but two of his guards –the princess had clearly won the argument, as a smaller, lighter haired guard replaced the scarred warrior. She watched her father go for a long moment, her expression hidden by the bright glare of the sun as it shone through the gate, before turning at last to smile politely at Nori.
"I apologize for the delay," she said, chin raised. "We are ready now."
Nori nodded and motioned a set of servants forward bearing a large, heavily cushioned litter.
"We have prepared this as a means of transportation, my lady, as it is quite a long walk to the second tier of the kingdom."
The princess inspected the chair, borne by four servants dressed in the fine, deep blue livery of the royal house, and there was a distinct air of disdain about her. Kíli groaned internally. She was likely used to fine carriages or something and they were about to have to entertain her complaints and wishes, which would only prolong his suffering.
"I would prefer to walk, if that is alright," she said at last and Nori frowned.
"It truly is a long walk, Your Highness. I think it best-"
"Do you intend to walk, Prince Kíli?" she asked, startling him and holding him captive with a hard stare.
"Ah, yes, I had," he stumbled and she nodded as though that had decided everything.
"Then I, too, shall walk. I assure you, my lords, I am stronger than I look."
Nori smiled and bowed though there was a spark of panic in his eyes; the old scholar did not like surprises, preferring meticulously executed plans, unlike his younger brother. Kíli and Orí had gotten into plenty of trouble in their young years; hell, they still did on occasion.
"Very well, my lady. We should be on our way if we're to reach our accommodations in a timely manner."
The Elven guards fell in beside her and she smiled, a hint of eagerness tugging at the corners.
"Please, lead the way."
Tauriel was equal parts fascinated and in awe as they descended into the mountain. Lord Nori was an excellent guide, naming and detailing every place they went and answering her questions with true pleasure, as though he wasn't quite used to having anyone's undivided attention. She quickly warmed to the scholarly dwarf, with his eccentric hair and flowing robes. He reminded her of a younger Balin, perhaps, with a bit more humor glimmering in his eyes.
Lord Nori explained to her the different tiers of the kingdom as it ran along a great spiral deep into the mountain. He told her of their exports and how much of their food was imported from Dale and River Town, but that they boasted herds of their own livestock and certain plants that were special to the caverns in which they were grown. Mushrooms, of course, but also a specific type of lettuce and even a few types of fruit.
Eventually, Orí joined into the conversation.
"Down that passage there is the home Nori and I grew up in," her faithful Dwarven shadow said as they walked down a path that was wide enough to accommodate several large wagons side by side.
The marble and stone, flecked with gold in places, spiraled downward and pulley systems and lifts lined the gaping center to facilitate easier travel and the transportation of goods. They had just descended past the main public chambers and royal accommodations and down into the second ring, which, according to Lord Nori, housed all the Dwarven nobility and important merchants. The path here was bustling, and many stared and whispered behind their hands as they passed.
"And there," Orí continued, pointing to a large central building with deeply carved runes on the front, "is where our father works."
"It's a library," Lord Nori explained, shooting his brother a look, "though the Royal Library far outshines it. Thorin's great, great grandfather decreed that there ought to be a public place of learning and my family has long seen to its care. Though my services are required by the King's council, someday I will oversee its operation."
"Someone had to serve in the Guard, however," Orí explained. "It's tradition for the second son to serve the King, so here I am."
"A shame, too," Lord Nori said, smile wistful. "Orí had the best head for runes and study. Mother used to say he was born with his nose pressed in a book."
Ori swatted his brother's back affectionately. "You're only saying that, brother. Nori serves the King and our father well. As you can see, few have better knowledge of the kingdom and all its history. I don't mind lugging about a sword and following pretty Elven princesses about."
Lord Nori snorted and Tauriel laughed brightly. She was quite enjoying herself, happy to finally be allowed to walk about, but then she caught sight of Prince Kíli from the corner of her eye and her smile faltered. Her betrothed had remained largely silent through their descent, clearly lost in thoughts of his own as he lagged somewhat behind.
Squaring her shoulders, she fell back to walk at his side. "Are you well, my lord?" she asked, oddly nervous. They'd had very little time to converse and she found she did not know what to say to him.
He glanced at her, dark eyes dismissive. "Well enough, my lady."
Clearly he had no intention of making this easy on her. "Do you, ah, travel past the upper ring of the city often?"
He sighed, one hand clutching the hilt of a sword and the other swinging freely. "More often than my uncle would like, I think."
Tauriel frowned at the words. "He does not encourage you to mingle with your people?"
Kíli smirked and snorted, and neither held much humor, then glanced at her and away again. "I think he more disproves of the manner in which I choose to mingle, Your Highness."
Something about his words made color creep up her neck and she looked away from him, at a loss. She truly had no idea what to say to this man –nearly a child in the eyes of her people - no idea what words might ease the distance between them that seemed to be growing rather than lessening.
It was Orí who came to her rescue. "I think that Her Highness would enjoy visiting the Terrace Market, don't you, Nori?"
The elder dwarf seemed to consider this for a moment, pausing as they passed beneath a wide arch that stretched toward the shadows of the mountain above. Pinpricks of torch light and braziers twinkled back at her like hot stars.
"Well, perhaps we could make a brief visit, if the lady is inclined," Lord Nori conceded and she smiled.
"I am more than happy to experience all aspects of your culture, my lord."
Orí snorted into his gloved hand. "Careful, lass, you may come to regret those words."
Tauriel smiled in response; she'd always enjoyed a challenge.
She glanced at her betrothed and found that he had returned to his brooding, seemingly unaware of her or anything else. Internally she heaved a great sigh. The next three days were likely to prove trying indeed. It was such a joy, however, to be released from her rooms, to be allowed a chance to explore, albeit under guard and procession, but her natural yearning for adventure overwhelmed any sense of true annoyance.
Lord Norí and their guard led the way further down the main path, wide tunnels and looming buildings –all of which had been carved directly into the mountain- ringed around their right side. Bright banners hung from storefronts and the echo of voices rose from below to condense about them. Eventually, they branched off down a well-lit, heavily trafficked tunnel, and they followed the scent of cooked meats and the sound of bright voices.
The Terrace Market resided in a wide, open cavern that overlooked one of the mountain's largest mines, Nori explained. A ring of pillars held the dozens of shops in place with many colorful carts placed at the center where scores of people navigated around them. Tauriel had never seen a place so vibrantly alive . She could not help but gape, nearly overwhelmed by all the color and noise and smells. Their guard cleared a path large enough for her, Lord Norí, and Prince Kíli to pass through and they descended into the chaos.
Tauriel wanted to look at everything all at once. Carts of silks and vibrant fabrics were helmed by harried women shouting over each other, dozens of stalls sold all types of fine jewels, more still sold weapons and armor, but the most fascinating of all were the toy carts. Tauriel watched with interest as an elder dwarf, his long white beard nearly brushing the floor, twisted the mechanism of an intricately carved bird made of swirling hoops of gold and silver, then released it gently to flutter around his head.
" Celair, " she breathed in awe, taking an unconscious step forward. Her two guards Seremet and Melrokier followed, clearing a space, and she approached the shopfront.
The old dwarf eyed her warily for a moment, snatching the bird from the air, then stood sharply as Prince Kíli came into view behind her. He looked rather star-struck.
"Your Highnesses," the old dwarf said, executing a shaky bow as he leaned heavily on a cane. "I am Xern, and I am at your service."
Admiring a herd of silver deer set on a long track that encompassed one display table, Tauriel ran her finger along the back of one. It was warm to the touch, as though it were somehow alive.
"These are amazing, sir. I have never seen anything like them," she said, turning her attention to a figure of a dancing dwarf woman in elegantly crafted sheets of bright metal and inset jewels.
The dwarf bustled forward and turned a thick key. A song played, beautiful and haunting, as the figure ran along a circular track, enacting a lovely and complex dance through a series of complex gears and hinges.
"It's beautiful, truly," she said and smiled at him.
"For you, my lady, please," he insisted immediately and Tauriel flushed with embarrassment.
"I couldn't, it is too fine a piece to merely give away," she insisted, backing away from the pretty music box.
The old dwarf frowned in thought, then brightened. "I have just the thing, wait here please, I'll only be a moment."
He hobbled off toward the back of his little shop and bent to pilfer through a few containers before returning with a small wood and gold box. The box bore no keyhole or hinges and she wondered over it as he handed it to her.
"A puzzle box," Lord Nori declared, standing at her side, and taking the box when she offered it to him, "of very fine make, I have never seen the like."
"No one has ever managed to open it," the old dwarf said, chest puffing with almost comical pride. "I've sold it twice and it's always managed to make its way back to me. I would offer it to my lady as a gift and a challenge." He tapped the side of his nose and winked at her. "If my lady manages to divulge the boxes secrets, she will win its prize."
Tauriel smiled, intrigued by the mystery. "And what is this prize?"
"Now that would ruin half the fun, wouldn't it?" the old dwarf said.
She could see the eagerness in the dwarf's eyes and smiled. "I accepted your challenge, Master Xern, thank you."
"It was pleasure, my lady. I hope you will come by again, Your Highness," Xern said, now addressing Kíli who lingered behind her in the doorway of the shop. "And may I congratulate you on your coming nuptials, my lord."
Prince Kíli visibly stiffened as her own stomach sank, but he managed to fix a smile on his face.
"I thank you, sir, for the gift and your kind words, but we really must be going," he said stiffly and turned on his heel to leave.
Tauriel smiled cordially at the shopkeeper, stung a little herself. If only she and Kíli could have a real conversation with one another, get to know one another for a few private moments. She watched him leave for a moment, wondering if she would ever find a way to bridge the chasm between them, before bowing to Master Xern and departing.
Princess Tauriel was much subdued after her visit to the toy master's shop and Kíli felt a prickling of guilt; he was not being an amiable host. He reminded himself for perhaps the hundredth time that this, their predicament, was not her fault. Unlike him, however, she, at least, appeared to be trying to make the best of it.
He glanced at her, considering. She stood straight and tall, the engagement beads in her hair glistening, and she seemed somehow untouchable, though the memory of her warmth as they'd danced was emblazoned in his mind. There was bravery in what she did, he realized, and strength. Kíli thought perhaps Balin was right -perhaps there was more to her after all.
The people about them stared, word of his engagement having traveled quickly, of course, and he felt a prickling of unease. Not all the eyes were kind. Would anyone think to hurt her? Or possibly him? They were surrounded by guards, all of them heavily armed, but would that be enough? Bofur would say he was being paranoid, but public opinion of his uncle, and thus his family by proxy, had fallen in the last few years as Thorin had become increasingly more hostile and reclusive. He could almost sense that restlessness now and it made his skin crawl.
What must his people think of such a move, marrying a Dwarven Prince to an Elven Princess? He hardly knew what to make of it himself.
Kíli turned to Norí. "We should be on our way if we wish to make the Golden Hammer in a timely manner," he said. He'd only ever stayed at the inn, reserved for the wealthiest of dwarves, a handful of times, and always when traveling with his uncle or mother. He preferred simpler, earthier places, with cheap drinks and better company.
Norí nodded. "Of course, Your Highness, at once. We can depart through the secondary tunnel, it ought to be faster than attempting to make our way back through this madness."
Norí turned to give one of the guards instructions and they began to route their way through the crowds. Moments later, however, a commotion drew the attention of the crowd till it parted enough that he could see.
"Caught red handed again, eh vermin?" a pot-bellied dwarf bellowed from behind a fruit cart, holding a scraggly bit of a dwarf by the arm. "It'll be a nice cushy cell for you this time, if they don't just take your hand out right."
Guards stationed throughout the market descended on the scene as the thief struggled to escape in vain. "Let me go, ya rat bastard!"
Durin's balls, Kíli thought at the sound of the frantic voice. The filthy and ragged creature was just a girl, and young at that.
"Come now, Princess, we don't need to watch this," Norí urged and Kíli looked at the elf-maid, taken aback by the consternation of her expression. Before any of them could think to stop her, she stepped apart from the crowd and approached the fruit seller.
"Excuse me, sir, I was wondering if I might perhaps purchase whatever the girl has stolen from you?" the princess said, loud and clear over the sudden hush of the people gathered.
The boisterous merchant turned an interesting shade of red as the creature in his grasp tugged and struggled for freedom. Norí, for his part, seemed close to fainting straight away.
"Who in Durin's name do you think you are, you Elven-"
It was Orí who proved quickest on his feet, pressing forward just in time to interrupt what was sure to be a colorful insult. "This is the Princess Tauriel of Mirkwood and you will show her your respect," the young guard said sternly, puffing out his chest.
The merchant scowled, clearly not easily cowed. "I don't care if she's a bloody Elven goddess, this is no business of hers."
Aware he ought to intervene, and quickly, Kíli made to take a step forward, opening his mouth to speak, but his betrothed beat him to it.
"May I not buy off this girl's crime? Surely you don't mean to take her hand, the poor thing is clearly starving," she reasoned, now addressing one of the guards who had come to collect the thief into custody. The man looked uneasy, clearly not at all sure how much deference to give her. The crowd muttered and whispered, but did not interfere, apparently interested in how the whole affair would pan out.
Mahal's balls, couldn't the woman just leave well enough alone?
"Ah well, that's not quite how things are done, ma'am- I mean, Your Highness-" the poor guard began, looking desperately between the princess and the furious merchant.
"I understand the need to punish law breakers, sir," the princess said calmly, "I don't mean to redeem her debt without a price. I thought she might serve in my household till it is repaid."
Nori had finally recovered himself, stepping past Orí to speak. "Your Highness, I am not sure that is such a good idea. The girl is a common thief, what use could you possibly have for her?"
The princess fixed him with a hard stare, eyes glinting with a hint of steel. "I have great need of a few new servants and I am sure that, given the opportunity, this girl would much rather be a maid than a thief."
The merchant snorted, still holding the girl by her arm in what had to be a bruising grip. "This gutter trash? Girl doesn't know shite about anything but thievery and whorin'."
Kíli caught the girl's eye and there was a wild, pleading desperation within.
"Bloody hell," he muttered, cursing Elven sensibilities, and stepped forward. The expression of the guard and the merchant changed immediately.
"Your-your Highness, Prince Kíli, we did not see you there-"
"You, girl," Kíli interrupted harshly. "What is your name?"
The thief lifted her head, hair so matted it was hard to distinguish the color, and said, barely loud enough to hear, "Frena, milord."
"Is it true what this man says, did you steal from him?" Kíli felt a pressing ache sprouting in the back of his head. Mahal, he needed a drink.
"Bloody right she did –Ah, Your Highness," the merchant responded before the girl could say anything, "and it ain't the first time either. Little tramp has done nothing but steal from others since the day she was born."
"That's a filthy lie," Frena shouted, kicking at the merchant's shins. "My ma was-"
"A lying whore just like you!" the merchant bellowed and then cried out when the girl whipped her head around and dug her teeth into his meaty arm. He growled and clamped a hand around her throat, effectively cutting off the girl's assault as she fought to breathe, choking and gasping as dirty, chipped nails clawed at the thick appendage.
"You're hurting her!" Princess Tauriel cried, stepping forward as though to physically intervene.
"Enough!" Kíli cried in his best attempt at princely authority –it wasn't a card he played often.
"Girl, I could care less what happens to you, but the princess believes you are worth more than you seem," he said, "So I would endeavor to behave as though you are."
"I will pay this girl's fine," Princess Tauriel reiterated and her tone was cool. "And you will release her into my care. Should she resort to stealing again I will surrender her unto the full extent of the law."
The guards looked uneasily at one another before one nodded and said, "Very well, my lady, but I wouldn't trust her not to stab you in your sleep. The poor wretch hasn't known anything but violence and thievery since her parents died."
Tauriel said nothing, though Kíli thought he saw her jaw tighten sharply for a brief moment.
"Melrokier, will you pay this upstanding gentleman what he is owed, so we might be on our way," she said, addressing the taller of her two Elven guards. He stepped dutifully forward, fishing free a large purse and Norí accompanied him, likely to ensure that some sort of brawl didn't break out during the negotiations as was sometimes want to happen even at the best of times.
Kíli took this opportunity to grip the elf-maid's arm and hiss, "What in Durin's name were you thinking ?"
She looked startled, glancing at where his hand touched her. Her eyes narrowed, but she did not attempt to break away from him. "I was thinking, my lord , that a young girl does not deserve to die for attempting to feed herself. Just look at her," she insisted in a harsh whisper, "the poor thing is skin and bones."
The warmth of her skin bled through her gauzy sleeve, setting fire to his bones, and he released her quickly, color rising to his cheeks. "She is your problem now. If she robs you blind or causes any issue, I don't want to hear about it."
The princess's mouth twitched, as though she were only barely able to hold back a biting response, and bowed. "Of course, my lord." There was a great deal of fire in her eyes, enough to almost cow him, instead he turned away from her as the Elven guard - Melroky or something of that nature - collected the filthy girl.
"Five gold pieces, my lady," the elf said grouchily, "this creature is hardly worth a copper, but I couldn't get him to budge."
"It's no matter, Melrokier, thank you. Hilde," the Princess called and the nervous looking handmaiden stepped forward. "Will you watch over her for now? Be sure to give her something to eat and some water, we will clean her up when we reach our destination."
The handmaid nodded and fetched a blanket to wrap the girl in, whispering to her gently in Khuzdul and leading her to the back of their small procession.
Irritated and grumpier than before, Kíli snatched Norí by his sleeve. "Let's get the hell out of here before she starts collecting more orphans."
"The lass has a kind heart," Nori rebuffed gently, motioning the guards to press them forward once more.
Kíli snorted, the ache turning into a pounding thump at the back of his brain. "She has a blind heart that is likely to get her and me into trouble."
Still, a voice whispered, she had shown more backbone than he had given her credit for. The idea that perhaps he admired her, just a little, only managed to irritate him further.
The Golden Hammer was a very fine inn indeed. The finest in all the kingdom, Lord Nori had assured her upon their arrival, obviously relieved to have made it so far without further incident.
It was clear that the establishment had been designed with nobility and royalty in mind. Tauriel was almost disappointed. For reasons she couldn't quite express, she was eager to experience more of Erebor, the true Erebor, hidden beneath all the gold and riches. The Golden Hammer was just another gilded cage, another prison of finery and expense.
Her new charge, however, created an interesting and refreshing atmosphere.
"You're scrubbing me bloody skin off, ya old hag!" Frena barked as Hilde attempted to wash years worth of grime from her back. The handmaiden whacked her unruly charge with the end of the scrubbing brush.
"One can hardly tell you have skin at all under this filth, and you'll not speak so in front of Her Highness, you hear me?" Hilde chided, fulfilling the role of a stern matron with natural ease.
Tauriel smiled to herself and moved to sit near the fire, the bath situated at the center of the room, and Tauriel could tell, judging by the murkiness of the water, they were going to have to change it again.
"Tell me, Frena," she said as kindly as possible, "What happened to your parents?"
The girl lifted her head, dark hair falling over half her face so only one, deep brown eye glinted. "None of your bloody business, that's wha-"
Hilde hissed furiously, whacking the girl once more with the brush. "Speak to the princess like that again, girl, and I'll personally escort you back to that merchant."
Tauriel hid a flinch and ducked her head. "No, she's right, it was presumptuous of me to ask. I only wished to get a better sense of your situation, Frena, and how I might fit you into my household."
The girl ducked her head and sniffed. "S'all right, I just ain't used to people being kind to me and I learned a long time ago not to trust anyone who is. Kindness ain't ever free."
Tauriel considered this for a long moment and sighed. "I suppose I can understand that, so I will make an agreement with you. Serve me for a month, do as you're told and work hard, and if you wish to leave, I will let you with gold in your pocket."
Hilde gaped at her. "My lady, you can't mean that-"
"You have my word, Frena," Tauriel insisted, holding the girl's gaze. Her beard was short, hardly there at all as it curved down from pronounced sideburns, and Tauriel thought she was likely very young indeed.
The girl's eyes narrowed, the pale creaminess of her skin shining gold in the firelight as fresh patches of it were revealed. "I don't trust nobody's word, not no more," Frena said and looked down, back hunched in. "But I'll stay at least a month. I've still got some honor, no matter what ol' Burc says."
Tauriel nodded and rose to her feet. "Good, then we are agreed. Hilde will show and tell you what to do and I expect you to be obedient and polite, but if you have any trouble with anyone, you come straight to me."
The girl said nothing, but nodded a bit. She had clearly been through an ordeal, the ghosts of some trauma hanging close about her, haunting and clear to see for anyone who cared to look. In time, Tauriel would ferret them out and help the girl to face them.
The following morning she was woken by a very timid and very different looking young Dwarven lass.
"Madame Hilde says it is time for you ta wake, Your, ah Highness," Frena said, staring down at her slippers, hands clasped tightly in front of her.
The girl's hair, a burnished brown with hints of red, had been thoroughly brushed and industriously plaited. Her slight beard had been trimmed and fashioned so it hugged the shadow of her jaw, and she wore a plain gown of white and blue. She was indeed young, the curves of her small body indicating that she was not quite yet a woman, even by her people's standards, but still surprisingly pretty.
"Thank you, Frena," Tauriel said, sitting up in bed still rather tired from a restless night of sleep. "Will you fetch me my dressing robe?"
The girl looked up, mildly panicked, and Tauriel pointed, fighting back an indulgent smile. "It's there, hanging on the door. What time is it?"
The girl fetched the robe and thrust it awkwardly at her as Tauriel rose to her feet. The poor thing could barely look her in the eye. "Just afta dawn. Madame Hilde says the prince and the others want ta depart early. She went ta fetch yer breakfast."
Tauriel accepted the garment, tying it about her waist and yawning deeply. Valar, it was so blessedly difficult to get used to the lack of sun. It could have been the middle of the night for all she knew.
"Very well. Did Hilde leave you with any further instructions?" she asked, sitting before a lavishly carved vanity. The room was large and well furnished, still its opulence unsettled her. Her rooms within the Elven palace had been modest, small even, and she'd often spent weeks outdoors, cradled in the boughs of the forest, overseeing the movements of her men and ensuring the safety of her kingdom.
She was becoming a pretty ornament, a glass figurine to be keep safe and warm in lovely places. The thought disturbed her greatly.
"Only tha I should see to whatever ye'd like, ma'am," the girl said, jarring Tauriel from her melancholy.
"Perhaps you can help me select a gown for the day," she said, forcing a cheery smile. "We are to visit the mines, or so Lord Nori says."
The girl wrinkled her nose a bit. "Dusty, dirty place even at the best o'times. Wouldn recommend any o'the fine gowns you have, ma'am."
Tauriel chuckled and rose to riffle through the contents of her closet. Not a single pair of trousers, as she'd suspected. There was, however, a plain woolen gown of bright, leaf green and she had thought to pack her sturdiest boots.
"This one ought to do," she declared, setting the dress upon the bed. "I will need your help lacing it. Can you manage?"
The girl puffed her chest out and nodded sharply. "I used to help my ma wi' her dresses afore she died. Though… yer a bit tall, ma'am."
Tauriel laughed outright, blessing the child for her honesty. It was so wonderfully refreshing after all the pretty manners and false smiles of the last few days.
"Perhaps you can stand on that stool and I'll hunch down a bit," she said and a slow smile of true amusement graced Frena's face.
They managed well enough and when Hilde returned with her breakfast, she was shocked to find the princess seated on her bed with their wayward ward standing behind her and braiding her hair. The braid was a simple style, common among peasant women, symbolizing contentment and happiness, but it looked well on her mistress.
"Careful not to snarl the strands, dear," Hilde said with a resigned sigh. "It'll take ages to tease them out again and the prince is already waiting."
Tauriel bit back a smile of amusement at the look on her handmaiden's face and nodded. "I believe we are nearly done. Have you eaten yet, Frena?"
"No, ma'am-"
"Your Highness or my lady," Hilde corrected, almost as an afterthought as she set out a lavish meal at a small table.
"I mean, no, Your Highness," Frena grumbled obediently.
"And you, Hilde?" Tauriel pressed.
"Not as yet, my lady," she replied, setting her hands on ample hips, surveying her work with a sharp eye.
"Good, you shall both share this meal with me. There is plenty enough for all."
Hilde looked vaguely scandalized. "I couldn't, Your Highness. It wouldn't be proper."
Frena was already eagerly seated at the table, portioning out selections of pork and potatoes on her plate. Hilde visibly deflated.
"I shall never be able to teach her manners if you keep this up, my lady," the older dwarf woman chastised and sat awkwardly across from Tauriel who'd seated herself between them.
"I've had entirely too much of manners and decorum, Hilde, especially at the expense of your breakfast," Tauriel said, searching for something even remotely vegetable shaped. She was to the point where she thought of speaking to the royal cooks directly for all dwarves seemed to eat was meat .
"I see now why you've taken a street urchin into your care then, my lady, for I'm certain decorum is not in this girl's nature," Hilde grumbled and Frena stuck her tongue out at the handmaiden when the older woman ducked her head to fish out a few slices of bacon. Tauriel only barely managed to hide a snort of amusement behind her hand and settled for a few boiled eggs.
Dressed plainly, and far more comfortably than she had been since her arrival at Erebor, she was eager to begin the day. Tauriel and her maids met Lord Norí in the courtyard with Orí at her heels.
"You look lovely, Your Highness," the scholar said with a subdued bow over her proffered hand.
Prince Kíli caught her eye from across the way, where he stood speaking with several guards. He surprised her by walking toward them with a smile that seemed to tentatively say ' forgive me, I am trying.'
"Ah, good morning, Princess, you look… well," the prince fumbled, bowing as well. He, too, had dressed more subduedly, plain trousers, worn boots, and a deep green tunic with little embroidered stitching. He'd swept his hair back and secured it with a thick, silver clasp, calling her attention, for the first time, to the two braids on either side of his face. Two simple, silvery beads gleamed from either plait and she flushed deeply at their clear implication, matched by the braided beads in her own hair.
"As do you, my lord," she managed, oddly off-kilter, though heartened by his attempt at civility.
He appeared to be in much better spirits than the previous day. "Are we visiting the mines today? I confess I am eager to see them. Even among my people they are famous."
"Indeed, my lady. We are ready to leave when you are," Norí assured her graciously.
"Then let us be on our way," she said as their guards gathered.
Seremet and Melrokier had, of course, been at her heels since she left her rooms and she took great comfort in their presence despite a lingering sense of embarrassment. Prior to this, Tauriel had been their Captain, a fair but demanding master -or so she hoped- now somehow reduced despite her elevation. She'd been a princess for over three hundred years, she reminded herself, but until very recently she had not understood the true implications of the title.
"First, I thought we would take a tour of the workshops before descending via the lift to avoid some of the less appealing sections of the crafting quarters," Lord Nori explained as they paced through a stone garden set with many pretty fountains. She wondered idly if she would ever grow used to the lack of trees, a place in her heart aching at the thought until she dutifully pressed the issue aside.
"Where do the common people of your realm live, my lord?" she queried with a frown. Certainly the mines would be at the lowest level of the kingdom.
"Oh, they reside in the third and fourth rings, both of which are quite large, but we will largely bypass them," Lord Nori told her as they passed through the gates of the garden, the footmen there bowing low as they proceeded.
Tauriel stopped in her tracks and it was a moment before Lord Norí realized she was not beside him. Prince Kíli, on the other hand, stood at her side, his gaze probing.
"Why are we bypassing them? I should like to see how your people live," she insisted.
Lord Norí looked uncomfortable, sharing a brief glance with the prince. "Some sections of the lower circles are… unsavory, my lady, and we did not wish to subject you to anything uncomfortable."
Tauriel arched a brow at him, spine straightening. Her father had counseled her to not speak of her dealings as Captain of the Guard or how she was accustomed to living. After all, she was to be a true princess now, and true princesses did not gallivant through the forest killing spiders and orcs and sleeping outdoors with men. She was aware, not for the first time, that these dwarves thought her little more than a delicate and perhaps foolish maiden.
"I assure you, Lord Norí, I am not made easily uncomfortable. I would be very pleased to tour these lower circles and perhaps to stay in whatever sort of accommodations the area offers."
Lord Norí looked almost appalled. "Surely my lady should not be reduced to staying in such undignified-"
"I think it's a great idea," Prince Kíli interrupted, surprising them both. "There are several places I can think to take Her Highness. Don't look at me like that, Norí, they are clean wholesome establishments, but with the added benefit of less… ceremony and pomp," he said these last words with obvious distaste that echoed her own in a manner she had not expected.
Tauriel couldn't quite keep her elation at his support from her voice. "That sounds very pleasant indeed, Prince Kíli."
The look the prince gave her was a bit odd, as though he could not decide whether or not she was serious, but he offered her another tentative smile in kind. "Then it is settled," he told the frazzled looking scholar. "I think the Broken Anvil should serve our purposes very well."
Lord Norí deflated and feverishly waved a nearby servant forward and relayed their change of plans. Sounding rather dejected he then told them, "The servants will deliver your belongings ahead so we might be on our way, if that is agreeable to Your Highnesses."
Tauriel nodded, resolute and quite excited. "Very agreeable."
The prince was still watching her, but she could not quite bring herself to meet his eye, unsure and, as yet, unwilling to discover what she might find there. Again she took comfort in his willingness to interact with her, perhaps there was hope for their mutual understanding.
"It's a fine inn, my lady," Frena whispered to her. "Near where my ma's shop used ta be."
"I am eager to see it," she told her new maid before Hilde gathered the girl up and admonished her for speaking to their mistress so familiarly.
Tauriel would have to speak to her handmaiden about easing the reins just a tad for she was eager for pleasant and honest company and thought Frena might provide it. The girl clearly had very little sense of propriety and Tauriel was eager to take advantage of the kinship it might provide.
They walked a short distance to a finely made lift that impressively managed to fit their entire party, and Tauriel peered through the prettily wrought grating to mark their descent. She could smell the bitter note of the forges wafting with the cooler air that billowed up from below them, fascinated by how eerily it all mirrored the night sky. The caverns were well lit, but she could see the promise of darkness, a haunting circle of mystery far below, and she wondered just how deeply the dwarves had delved.
Stories of Hadhodrond were known widely among her people, the loss of the great mountain city a devastating blow to Middle-earth. Staring into the beckoning maw of shadow and promise, Tauriel wondered if the dwarves had learned anything from the experience or if history was doomed to repeat itself. The lift came to a smooth stop and she shook the thought away, but the flavor of an almost primal fear lingered at the back of her throat.
"This particular section of the Crafter's Circle bears the kingdom's most celebrated crafters and artists," Lord Nori said, leading them across another wide path and into a slightly more confined tunnel. The tinkering of hammers and indistinct voices was almost like a song that spoke of earth and labor, a tune she found catching despite herself.
They emerged into a large chamber filled with crafting tables and dwarves. Those present must have been alerted to their arrival, for they all stood at attention near their work benches and bowed in unison when she and Kíli entered.
"This workshop is entirely dedicated to Erebor's greatest treasure, mithril," Lord Norí said with a hint of reverence.
The treasures placed upon the tables were almost beyond reckoning. Jewelry of such brilliance and remarkable craftsmanship glittered at her as though lit from within, but the true marvel were the weapons and armor.
"It can take many, many years to properly shape and fashion weapons made of mithril," Lord Nori told her as she stood in awe before a row of swords and daggers the like of which she had never seen. "Once, long ago, the elves boasted knowledge that could shape the metal more easily," he continued, "but that knowledge has since been lost. The mithril is often mixed with steel to make it more manageable, but it still requires a superior craftsman to manage it."
Tauriel reached out and ran a finger down the blade of a particularly beautiful long knife. "May I?" she asked the dwarf behind the table. The dwarf glanced at the prince, then nodded hesitantly, though whether out of unwillingness for an elf to touch his work or merely because she was a female, she could not be certain. Faced with such beauty, however, she simply did not care.
Tauriel lifted the blade, marveling at the perfect balance of it in her palm. Without thinking, she spun it deftly in her hand a few times, getting a feel for the length and wide girth compared to her own knives.
"The lady has clearly held a blade before," the craftsman said, jarring her from her reverie, and she glanced sharply at Lord Norí and Prince Kíli who were both watching her with a great deal of interest.
She set the knife down immediately and flushed. "Ah… yes, I have had some training," she said and stepped away from the table, but when she looked up the craftsman was smiling. He took the knife and held it out to her.
"I made this blade when I was very young, my first in fact," the dwarf told her. "But it is too small and light to be of any true interest to a Dwarven warrior, but ideal for a lady's hand, if she knows how to use it, Your Highness," he continued, his dark eyes twinkling. "Take it, as a wedding present." At his words, whispers of dissent echoed through the chamber, reminding her that not everyone was quite so kind and open-minded about her presence or of upcoming union with their youngest prince.
Stunned and ashamed she had let her guard down so thoroughly, she stuttered, "O-Oh no, I couldn't. It is far too fine a gift and it likely wouldn't be appropriate-"
"May I see it?" Prince Kíli asked, startling her yet again. His expression was difficult to read as the craftsman willingly handed him the blade. The prince tested its weight, admiring the haft and elegantly shaped hilt.
"It is a fine blade, Master..?"
"Yév, Your Highness."
"A fine blade indeed, Master Yév," he finished with sincerity and then handed the knife to Tauriel, eyes intense. It would be rude of her, she realized, to refuse such a thing, though it's worth likely outweighed everything she owned and then a great deal more. It felt political, whatever was happening. A Dwarven craftsmen had just offered her a kingly gift and had thereby drawn a line in the sand.
Clutching the knife in a hand that welcomed the feel of leather and cool metal like a lover lost, she dipped into a small curtsey. She could play her part, even though she was quite sure she didn't know the lines. "Thank you, Master Yév, for it is the finest gift I am likely to ever receive."
The dwarf presented her with an exceptionally made sheath and bowed over it. "A beautiful knife for a beautiful lady, Your Highness. Mahal, bless you and your union."
They left the workshop shortly thereafter and she unwillingly handed the knife off to Hilde for safekeeping. Tauriel felt rattled, hardly hearing what Lord Norí told her about the subsequent crafting shops that dealt with gold, silver, jewels, and steel. She was caught in an intricate web made of strings she could not see.
Her distress must have been obvious for, as they passed through a tunnel on their way to view the main mine shaft, Prince Kíli leaned toward her and said quietly, "You did well. Do not look so concerned."
It was perhaps the kindest thing he had said and it birthed a pang of longing in her breast. "It was too fine a thing to receive," she whispered back, "but I feel caught in a current that I cannot escape."
Prince Kíli's expression darkened and he drew a bit away, looking not at her but ahead. "Many are displeased over our union, this should come as no surprise, but there are many who remain unfailingly loyal to my uncle and it is important that they express that loyalty in the face of dissent." His tone was neutral, his speech carrying a note of rehearsed practicality.
Whatever response she might have formulated, however, was forgotten as they stepped into a massive cavern, so large she could not see the mountain above or below.
"This," Lord Norí announced, "is where we mine primarily for mithril." He bowed and swept a hand of invitation toward a viewing balcony.
Tauriel approached eagerly and leaned over the ledge, peering into the mine below. Many dwarves lined the cavern walls, dutifully mining away as heavily laden carts of ore were sent on their way to some mysterious location.
"Look, there," Lord Norí said next to her, pointing. "Do you see that bright vein there? It is newly struck and very rich."
She did see it, tendrils like spiraling roots made of starlight swirling within the surrounding rock.
"It's beautiful," she said. "Truly."
"Our people feel most at home here, far beneath the earth," the scholar continued, the reverence back in his voice as he, too, stared into the abyss of darkness below. "Here we commune with Mahal through stone and rock, here we can be at peace with our place in the world."
Some distant part of her could almost feel it, a low hum that vibrated beneath her feet, but she was born of stars and sky and the song of earth and mountain were not for her to hear.
When the princess had suggested they stay in the lower levels, Kíli had been shocked and then thrilled. Mahal, he'd always felt so damned uneasy within the extravagant inns his family always insisted upon.
The Broken Anvil was his chosen inn when not frequenting more… risqué establishments, as it sported a large dinner hall and bar room, a large bathing pool, as well as comfortable and clean rooms that were not overwhelmed by heavily embroidered cushions. It was where merchants stayed when they traveled, where well-to-do families took their holidays, and where he enjoyed staying when business, personal or official, brought him to the lower circles. And, he could admit, some part of him was eager to see his soon-to-be bride in such circumstances, surrounded by the common folk, a flagon of ale before her, lively music filling a cheery hall.
He could hardly imagine it.
So far, everything the Elven Princess did astonished him. She was not at all what he had expected. When she'd descended into the courtyard that morning, he had been caught by how truly fetching she looked in her simple gown, hardly able to help the appreciative glances he threw her way.
But, perhaps, the most shocking moment of the day had been the flash of the knife in her hands while touring the workshops, well trained fingers flipping the weapon easily in her grasp. It sparked a sense of curiosity that he'd almost convinced himself he did not possess, at least, not when it concerned his future bride. The events of the day weighed heavily on his mind as her words near the central mine echoed in his head.
"…I feel caught in a current that I cannot escape." The words had struck such a resounding chord within him he had instinctively relied on political parlance to mask his true reaction. It had dampened his mood, drawing him back toward melancholic brooding as he sat in the bar room of the Broken Anvil.
Norí was still clearly displeased with the change in arrangements, but the princess's obvious and diligent curiosity was slowly easing his concerns. The older dwarf and his betrothed were engaged in an animated discussion of how their kingdom managed long distance travel within the mountain, Orí occasionally chiming in, and clearly did not need his input. Still, there were more than a few times he caught her looking at him, just small glances that would dart away, but there was some hint of curiosity there as well. He had a sense that she wished to know him better and only stubborn pride kept him from giving into the same impulse. His sense of betrayal was still too fresh, his mother's distance too upsetting.
Eventually he excused himself to get a bit of air and space. As he departed, he could feel her eyes upon him, ever curious and searching. He found privacy in the alley outside the kitchens and leaned against a cool stone wall, letting his head fall back with a sigh. This area of the third circle, affectionately called Merchant's Cradle for the way the inner portions of it dipped inward, was fairly clean and safe. There were no vagabonds sleeping in corners or shifting shadows in dimly lit tunnels, but it still possessed a certain common charm that he'd always found appealing. There was nothing and no one but him and his ragged thoughts.
Kíli turned suddenly, pushing away from the wall, sensing movement. Princess Tauriel stepped uncertainly into the torch light. Her hair burned brighter than the flames that flickered between the strands from a nearby torch and he wondered idly if they would be hot to the touch. There was a smile, part knowing and part nervous, sliding across her teeth and it warmed him to the backbone.
Something shifted inside him. The green of her eyes was deep and full of longing, a longing that echoed through him. Not the physical yearning he felt when he thought of the dance they'd shared, but something else, something that called for closeness and understanding.
"Share a drink with me, my lord?" she asked, voice pitched low. From inside the tavern, music and song filtered outside, jolly and warm as it reached out to them from across the way.
"Considering the circumstances, perhaps you could call me Kíli," he said as charmingly as he could manage. There was something about the moment, one that held them just a little bit apart from the rest of the world, and it made him want to be kind, welcoming even.
The events of the day, her honest interest in his people, and her reaction to the mithril master's gift, had softened some part of him.
She smiled a little and passed him an earthenware cup and he recalled, with almost startling clarity, that first day before everything had become official, when they had stood almost exactly as they did now. This time, however, her fingers brushed and lingered as he took the cup from her. It felt like the start of something.
She flushed prettily and looked away, then said, as though she'd read his mind, "I would like to apologize for my previous taciturnity. I know this is not something either of us wanted or expected. I should not have been so-"
"Please, if you start apologizing, then I'll have to as well, and I've always found apologies to be terribly boring," he interrupted, drinking a bit of the cheap mead to chase away the knot of nervousness forming in his throat.
She lifted a brow. "Everyone speaks to me of your recklessness. I think now I understand what they mean," the statement might have been accusatory if not for the hint of humor in her eyes.
"And what of you?" he pressed, years of experience with women telling him to direct the conversation away from himself. "Few have offered me any insight into your behaviors and vices."
The princess smiled, almost to herself, and looked out across the hall throwing half her features into shadow. "My father believes that I am also too reckless and bold, though I suspect he would just prefer that I were easier to manage."
Kíli had a hard time envisioning her as anything but composed and ethereal, no matter how like a fighter she sometimes moved, and asked, "But what of your true parents?"
Her visage was instantly shadowed and he felt an utter fool. Curiosity had gotten the better of him.
"I am sorry," he said, "I did not mean to cause you any distress."
She flashed him a smirk. "Apologies are boring, remember?"
Kíli felt his face heat and he wondered when he'd become so clumsy at this. "Ah, right, but it was foolish of me to ask either way."
Another smile that he could not place, though her eyes were not as bright as they had been.
"No, it is truly alright. It was a long, long time ago, so long that I hardly remember them."
In a rare show of solidarity Kíli said, "My father died when I was young, a hunting accident." He had no idea what had gotten into him; he never spoke of his father if he could help it.
Her eyes flickered to him, something like understanding lingering within. "I am sorry for your loss. I know how devastating it can be."
Disliking how serious the conversation had become, Kíli forced a smile and said teasingly, "Tell me, what is it that elves do for fun? You lot always seem so… solemn."
This surprised a laugh from her and it was so sweet and pure that it made his heart ache for the space of a beat.
"I must confess that my diversions were not considered precisely... common among my people, at least, for those of my sex."
"I did happen to notice your ease with the knife," he said as casually as he could. Women among his people often learned to fight, to a certain degree. There was even a division of women that were placed in a special guard designed to protect a queen, which they had not had for many long years. They now served his mother or in other areas where men-folk were not allowed.
The princess colored and bit her lip, the unconscious action heating his blood so that he had to look away. The thought that he'd like to be the one biting that lip was immediately subdued; he was being ridiculous.
"I have spent much of my life in weapons training," she confessed. "I, ah, served my father in such a manner for many long years."
"Served him… in battle?" he asked in disbelief. Such a thing was unheard of among dwarves.
Their women were few enough that they were protected beyond even the most precious jewel. The thief-turned-maid they had recently acquired an obvious exception.
She glanced at him, uncertainty blatant in her eyes. "Not battle, per se, but in defense of our homeland, yes. Giant spiders of late, and the occasional orc or goblin party that wandered within our borders."
Kíli was not sure he believed it. "I, ah, see," he ventured, unsure of what to say or think. Part of him, a rather large part if he were being honest, found the idea… appealing. Another part found it off-centered and alarming.
"I'm sorry," she said, taking a long swig of her mead. "I should not have said anything. My father warned me it would be ill received-"
"No, no," he blurted. "I was just surprised, that is all. Many of our women know how to use a blade, though few if any have ever seen true battle or violence."
She rewarded him with a small smile and she looked more… substantial, real , than he had ever seen her. So much so that he forgot her age and experience and found that somewhere between them there might be a common ground on which to stand. Lost in thought, he only belatedly realized they had begun to gravitate toward one another, his gaze fixed unconsciously on her lips, the bottom one slightly swollen where she had bit it.
Embarrassed he jerked back and cleared his throat. "We ought to return inside before Norí comes in search of us."
He'd turned away and taken a few steps forward before gentle fingers caught him by the shoulder. Kíli froze in place as though the stone beneath his feet had reached up and trapped him where he stood.
"I know this is terribly forward of me, but there is something I wish to try."
Though the words made little sense to him, something about her tone and the look in her eyes when he turned toward her made heat thunder through his veins with a suddenness that nearly robbed him of speech.
"I am at your service," he said hoarsely.
She was very close to him, close enough that he had to tilt his head back a bit to look at her.
She studied his face with an intensity that made the hair on the back of his neck and across his arms stand on end, as though she were trying to reach down and grasp at the contents of his soul. Never had anyone looked at him in such a way, as though he were more than he was.
Before his mind could catch up with his body, she leaned forward and pressed her lips gently to his.
Kíli had quite a lot of experience with women and kissing them, but, despite the chaste nature of it, no kiss had quite thrilled him so much as this one. For a brief moment he pressed back, seeking her warmth like a man who'd been lost in a snowstorm as he stumbled toward the light of a distant fire, but then she drew sharply away and his eyes flew open. Again she studied him with almost unnerving intensity.
"Good night, Kíli," she said at a whisper, her face close enough that he could taste her words on his lips.
She left as quietly as she had appeared, making him wonder, for a wild second, whether or not she had ever truly been there at all.
