* * * The following morning * * *
The lovely gems of the queen were uncovered, bouncing before him as she rode him roughly. A light sheen of sweat glistened on her torso and face. He leaned forward to lick it from a swollen breast as she threw her head back and cried out his name. He gripped her hips tightly with his hands and thrust up into her, feeling her contract around his slippery erection. Her screams as she climaxed tipped him over the edge, making him moan wildly. He could feel his cock stretch her body, pulsing with his own intense orgasm. Panting, gasping, as he came inside her, he felt he had died and gone to heaven.
"Kili! We're heading to the hall for breakfast. Get up, you lump!" The shouts of his brother's voice outside the door woke him suddenly. He jerked awake and rubbed his eyes. And groaned softly as he noted the tightness in his crotch of what he might otherwise think of as an impressive morning erection. It was throbbing a little, almost painful. No tavern wench in the bed to help relieve the pressure. Thinking of Orcs would not do the trick this time, he was far too hard.
"I'll meet you down there," he yelled, as he slipped his hands into his sleep pants to stroke and massage himself. It didn't feel as good as thrusting into a fiery, soaking wet woman, or a steamy little mouth, but he couldn't go out in the hall like this. He came quickly, having been so close from the dream, streaming down his leg under the pants. He pulled the pants off and used them to wipe his cum from his leg. Digging in his pack for thicker trousers, he got dressed and left the guest room.
There was one more day in Mirkwood. They were leaving tomorrow, an early breakfast having been planned already. Today they were seeing to repairs and mending and provisions. Swords and other equipment had been sent to the smithy for sharpening yesterday. The Queen had been quite generous in having her people work long hours in a short time to assist the dwarves.
Kili walked quickly to the main hall where they had had dinner the night before. All the party was there, seated around the long table. Platters of fruits and cheeses and breads and pitchers of ale filled the table, along with some bowls of what looked like a gruel.
His company did not look so well. Even those that had stopped drinking early to go on the palace tour looked ashen and exhausted. Kili was glad he had not drunk as much as he normally would. He hated feeling sick. And being hungover was a state he did not want to appear in before the queen.
And where was she? He did not see her in the hall. How had she spent the night? Dreaming of him thrusting inside her, moaning and then screaming with desire? Kili was not going to ask where she was, that would be too obvious. Sitting down by a sick looking Bofur, he put some cheese and bread on a plate. If he paid attention, he would likely find out where Tauriel was without showing he wanted to know.
"Where did you end up last night, lad?" Bofur asked, his voice creaking. "You didn't come with us on the palace tour."
"I stayed here. Someone had to make sure those four didn't get sloppy drunk and break furniture like in Rivendell," Kili replied, gesturing down the table at the unlucky quartet.
"He was flirtin' with the Queen, he was," Bombur managed from farther down the table.
Kili was startled by the comment, but recovered quickly. "You are confused Bombur. You were so drunk last night you fell out of your chair! Three elves had to help you back to your room. Don't you remember?"
The company at the table laughed loudly at this, ignoring Bombur's comment. Out of the corner of his eye, Kili could see Thorin give him an odd, appraising sort of look even as he laughed at Bombur. "I do not advise getting drunk tonight. We are leaving early tomorrow, and all must be ready," his uncle said briskly.
"Good morning, gentlemen!" A tall elf with long brown hair, dressed in fine brown linen and leather boots, stepped into the room.
"Lord Naili, a fine morning to you," Thorin said jovially. Kili realized this was the counselor at the dinner last night that his uncle spent so much time talking to.
"My Queen has other matters to attend to this morning and this afternoon, and has requested I help you today. She has suggested a tour of and opportunity to try the elvish forges. You will be able to see how your weapons are coming along." The elf looked at Kili and continued. "Prince Kili you are an archer, I believe? Our archery master and trainer has time for you, and others who are interested, this afternoon. And then an early dinner this evening, as you must be away very early tomorrow."
His uncle rose and bowed to the elf. "Thank you, my lord. Your Queen is very generous. We will be happy to see the forges and the archery."
* * * The archery field * * *
A late autumn sun shone down on the archery range. The archery master, an elf named Tirin, had set up various targets at different places throughout the open space. He was currently engrossed in examining Kili's bow and arrow.
It was just the two of them. No one else had really been interested in archery, and Kili had not expected them to be. The rest of the company had been invited back to the forge area after lunch, to view elvish swordmaking. Thorin might have come with him to this range, but he and Naili had been engrossed in talk during lunch and had left together to meet with another counselor.
Kili was very glad not to have an audience. The rest of the dwarves didn't really appreciate the skill required for archery. He knew some would laugh if and when he missed the center.
"It feels quite different from my own," Tirin said, letting an arrow fly. It hit slightly off center of the target. "Just different enough not to hit the bull's eye." He handed the bow back to Kili. "Let's see how you do, then."
Kili faced another target, firing the arrow. He was a good shot, for a dwarf, but not compared to an elf. The arrow found a mark outside the center, just a little farther outside where Tirin's arrow had landed. Kili grimaced a little and turned to Tirin. "Archery is not something most dwarves learn. I had only two teachers, and learned all they could teach me."
Tirin clapped him on the back and smiled. "You are well skilled, nothing to be ashamed of! Once Erebor is reclaimed and the kingdom is functioning, you can come back for a long visit and I will teach you elvish archery. You'll even have your own Elvish bow and arrow, the request came down from the Queen this morning to make one for you. It won't be ready before tomorrow, however."
"That is very kind of her." Kili was surprised, and pleased to hear that. He had not realized Queen Tauriel had known he was an archer. It was not something they had talked about yesterday.
"Yes." Tirin walked down to the targets to get the arrows, and Kili followed them. "I've been making bows and arrows, and daggers, and teaching elves to throw and shoot, for three thousand years. Many, many elves have learned from me, but the best student in all my years is my Queen Tauriel."
"Really? I didn't know she was an archer, or that she was so talented."
"She is second only to me in this kingdom. Archery is in her blood, her father was a superb archer, and a student of mine as well. He did not live to see his daughter become queen, or to see her best him at shooting." Having collected the arrows, they walked back to the shooting area.
Kili was confused. He knew elves had immortality, and they rarely got sick. The king must have been killed. "What happened to him?" he asked carefully.
"He and his queen, and their traveling party, were slaughtered by Orcs, not far from here. We heard the cries, we'd gotten notice that the party was almost home and were on the watch. But we were too late to save any of them."
Kili did not respond, he sensed that Tirin was in the middle of his memory. The elf went on, seeing a day in the past. "We killed the remaining Orcs, and brought the bodies of our dead home. The Orcs had been unusually brutal, and it was . . . horrible. Someone told the princess her parents were dead, and her screams, everyone in the palace heard them." He paused, and Kili saw him bow his head. "She was young then, not a child, but not quite an adult, either. I remember her coming to the room where the king and queen lay, ordering everyone to leave. She was so fierce. And then she sat alone with them for hours that day. I don't know what she did in there, but when she left them, Princess Tauriel had become Queen in spirit. You could see it in her eyes."
He tried to imagine such a thing for himself, and found he couldn't bear to think on it. Kili thought of the desirable Queen he'd flirted with last night as a young girl, almost a woman, being orphaned in such a brutal way. His heart filled with sorrow. "How awful for her, for all of you. I'm so sorry," Kili said softly.
Tirin wiped his wet eyes, and nodded. "It was a terrible day. But the day after, the Queen came to me and wanted to shoot. She had been an inconsistent learner before. Didn't like to practice. But two hours a day, almost every single day, for the past five hundred years she's trained. That day gave her the heart to learn."
"Will she come down while we're here?"
"No, sir, she came down for an hour this morning. Now she is training with our targets in the forest." Tirin handed Kili the elven bow. "Give this a try." Kili aimed, and fired. The arrow hit the target, but well away from center. Disappointed, he slumped and shook his head at his lousy performance.
Tirin laughed a little at the dejected look on his face."Come back when your quest is over, sir, and I will teach you everything I know. You will hit dead center with your own bow and the elvish one, every time, in every condition. This I promise you."
* * * Second Night in Mirkwood * * *
The dinner was early, quite a bit earlier than the night before. Flagons of beer and ale, platters of breads and tureens of a thick, savory stew were set around the table. Small berry tarts had been placed at all their plates. Kili sat at the long table with the rest of the company and some elves, eating and drinking the delicious food, observing and listening to conversations.
"How did the archery go?" Fili, who was sitting next to him, asked him.
"It was fine, I guess. I tried the archery master's elven bow. It feels quite a bit different from a dwarf bow."
"Oh? How so?" Kili was a little surprised, as Fili had not ever been all that interested in archery.
"The grip is different, so is the length and the weight. It will take some getting used to."
"Master Tirin will make you a superb bow. His workmanship is excellent," said an elf across the table from Kili.
Fili looked at him in surprise. "You're getting your own elven bow and arrow?"
"The Queen requested it this morning of Master Tirin," the elf answered. "But it will not be ready to take along tomorrow. Creating such a weapon takes time and much care."
Kili felt annoyed at being talked around. He looked down the table and caught Thorin's eye. From the look he gave him, Kili could tell his uncle had heard the comment about the bow and was surprised too.
"Why is she giving you something like that? A present?" Fili sounded a little put out.
"Apparently she is a great archer. Maybe she wants to help me improve," Kili shrugged, hoping the conversation would turn to another topic.
"Good evening, gentlemen." The Queen entered the room, three ladies in waiting trailing behind her. She was dressed in silver tonight, the color of the glowing moon. Kili saw she had a small choker of red gems around her throat. Rubies, perhaps? They were very bright against her white skin.
Blood bright. The story from earlier this afternoon entered his thoughts suddenly. When he looked at the Queen, he imagined a shocked and grieving young woman, hearing the news, screams echoing through the vast palace. Her innocent eyes looking down on the poor dead bodies of her parents, hewn and hacked by Orc blades. Sitting alone with them. Had she talked to them? Kissed their dead lips, closed their eyes so they could rest in peace? Kili could not look at her now without seeing the image of a hurting young girl in his mind.
"My lady, thank you for opening your forges to us. None of us has been near a forge in many months, it was wonderful to work on them, if only for a few hours," Thorin said as he stood and bowed to her.
"You are most welcome. Are you pleased with the repairs to your weapons?" she asked kindly as she walked around the table.
"Yes indeed. They are all ready and packed for tomorrow."
The Queen took a seat next to his uncle and gestured for a glass and plate. "And the archery? A new experience with an elven bow," she commented, looking down the table at Kili.
"I enjoyed my hours with Master Tirin, my lady. Thank you," Kili said, smiling at her.
"I heard you are having a bow made for Kili. That is most generous," Thorin said. Kili kept his eyes on the two of them, wondering what the Queen would say in response.
"A small gift to encourage goodwill between us, sir. Elves are the finest archers in Middle Earth. There is much we can teach dwarves, and men. If they wish," she replied, giving Kili a slight smirk. He was reminded of the flirting and conversation of the prior evening.
He did not return her look. Kili didn't feel flirtatious tonight. Not with that terrible story in his mind. His chest felt a little tight. What he needed right now was some air, not a suggestive smile. Kili nodded politely to the Queen as he got to his feet and left the table. "Is there a balcony or terrace nearby that I could step out on for a few moments?" he asked a serving maid.
"Yes, sir, right over here." She led him just outside the dining room to a curtained doorway and pulled the drapery aside.
It was a small balcony overlooking the woods. A large moon filled the sky, its light making the leaves on the trees glow. Stars sparkled against the black night. He sat on a stone bench, breathing slowly in and out, willing his overactive imagination to slow.
Kili thought of his own mother, back in the Blue Mountains. Both sons on this quest which, so far, they had all been lucky to survive. He took the obsidian rune stone she'd given him out of his pocket and examined it again, tracing the etchings with a finger. The dwarvish runes spelled 'love.' Love of his mother for her sons, and their devotion and love for her. She'd meant to remind her son of their family bond, and hoped it would help him keep himself out of trouble.
If he'd gotten the news as a young dwarf that she'd been slaughtered – loving, patient, devoted Dis, who also whacked his backside times too numerous to count, and scorched him with her words and yelling when he needed it. She had always been there for him and Fili. They would be broken without her. No, he had to stop thinking of this. It was too much, would give him nightmares later if he let it.
"May I join you?"a soft voice asked. Queen Tauriel had come in search of him.
"Yes. I do not wish to be alone with my thoughts anymore today."
"What! Are they really so terrible, Master Kili?" Her tone was a little teasing.
Kili looked at her soberly. "I heard a terrible and sad story today, my lady. About a beautiful young princess, whose parents were brutally killed by orcs. I have had a hard time not thinking about it since I heard the tale. I cannot imagine the pain she must have felt."
"Tauriel's eyes widened as he spoke. He watched as the smile disappeared from her face. Her lips pressed into a flat line. "I see." Her voice betrayed no emotion as she walked to the balcony rail and stood, looking at the sky.
"I'm very sorry, my lady."
For several minutes, she said nothing, but just stared up at the sky. Kili watched her standing there, quiet himself, out of respect for her pain. He felt an urge to take her hand, or touch her in some gentle way. Something to offer a little comfort. Uncertain of how he would be received, he held himself back.
Finally, she broke the silence."It was a terrible, terrible day. Never before and never since have I felt such pain." She paused, still facing away from him. Kili could hear the emotion in her voice. "I loved my mother and adored my father. After they died, I trained hard and long and became an even better fighter than my father. My mother was a firm and kind ruler, and I promised her I'd be as good a queen as she."
Kili now had an idea what she'd done and said, alone with their bodies, those centuries ago. She'd promised them her best self. "I'm sure they would be very proud of the person you are, my lady," he said kindly. He stood and walked to stand beside her. Gently, he took her hand in his, and softly caressed her knuckles. He felt her hand tense in his.
Tauriel turned to him, a look of surprise and discomfort on her face. "What do you want from me, Kili?" she asked softly.
"Right now?" He paused for a moment. It was really very simple. "To give the girl you were a little comfort, nothing more. Will you accept it?"
They looked at each other for a long moment, speaking no words. Kili could see a little confusion in her eyes. Then Tauriel turned back to look at the sky. Kili felt her hand slowly relax, her fingers moving to twine with his. "When my parents were alive, and I was bored at formal dinners, I would sneak out here and watch the night sky. It has always fascinated me."
"I always thought the light of stars and moon cold. Remote and far away," Kili said softly.
She squeezed his hand tightly in response. "It is memory! A precious thing. When I look at these stars, I feel my parents, and know that I am not alone."
"But you are not alone, my lady." He was confused.
"There is more than one kind of aloneness, Kili. One can be alone, even when surrounded by others." Suddenly she moved away from him, pulled her hand out of his grasp. "I have said too much." She curtseyed to him. "I must go. Pleasant dreams, Kili."
Kili grabbed her hand as she turned to leave, pulling her back with his strong grip. As she looked at him, stunned, he lifted her hand to his lips to press a kiss on the palm. "Thank you," he said softly.
"For what?"
"For sharing a memory with me. For accepting what you could of comfort."
There was a shuffling noise outside, that broke the moment between them. Thorin appeared, pulling the curtain aside. "Kili! There you are. We're heading to our rooms now."
Kili dropped the Queen's hand, wondering what his uncle had overheard. "Coming, Uncle." "Good evening, my lady." Kili and Thorin bowed to the Queen. The stunned look was gone, replaced by one of polite concern. She nodded to them as they left the room.
"What were you doing back there, Kili?" Thorin hissed as they walked down the hall to their guest rooms.
"Talking, Uncle. Just talking."
They had reached Kili's door. Thorin gripped his shoulder tightly, and gave Kili a sharp look. "That had better be all it is, Kili. The quest comes first."
* * * Goodbyes * * *
"Well, gentlemen. I bid you luck on the rest of your journey. I know you will be successful."
The Queen stood outside the gates of the palace in the faint light of sunrise. The company stood around her, thirteen dwarves and one hobbit, bellies filled from breakfast. They were packed and ready for the trip out of Mirkwood.
"Thank you, my lady, you have been most generous. I look forward to returning the generosity when we have reclaimed Erebor." Thorin bowed low to her, as did the rest of the company.
The sound of horses came from behind them. Elven guards on tall horses, and some leading ponies. "My guard will escort you safely to the borders of Laketown. Then the ponies will carry you the rest of the way. Good fortune take you to Erebor." She bowed to them.
Kili was glad of the pony. He loaded his goods on to the sides and climbed up, waiting for the rest of the party to be ready to ride.
He chanced a glance at the queen. Her red hair glowed like fire in the rising sun. She wore no gems or dress, but a fine brown leather tunic, split skirt, and boots. She was moving among the horses, saying goodbye to the dwarves.
Sitting in the saddle, he towered over her. Sharp green eyes looked up to his. "I hope you enjoyed your stay here, short though it was. I wish you a safe and successful journey, Prince Kili."
"I did enjoy my time here, very much, my lady. I hope I will be welcomed back in the future."
"Yes, indeed. I will make sure there is a bed for you." She smiled at him, a look full of promise. Then she bowed and moved on to say her goodbyes to the rest of the company.
Kili sighed in the cool morning air. The Queen was a woman of layers and complexities. Flirtatious, serious, kind, daring. Afraid to be vulnerable, perhaps? All he knew was that, in just two short days, he had been pulled in and didn't want to leave. Kili wanted to know everything about her, to take her apart and savor each and every piece of her. He was going to do everything in his power to stay alive, in order to return to Mirkwood.