Kili awoke to find his companion sitting at the other side of a newly invigorated fire, gracefully stirring a bowl of berries and wild oats that had been lain into the embers. Immediately he wondered if their awkward and hesitant encounter had truly happened at all, or if his mind had given over to the delusions of fever, but when a blush rose in her cheeks as she glanced in his direction, it was confirmation enough. She spooned some of the mixture from the bowl onto a wide flat leaf, and began walking over to where he rested. He moved to sit up and compose himself, expecting an all to familiar pain to grip his right leg, but was visibly surprised to find only a tolerable dull ache.
She set herself down a couple feet off to his side, waiting just a moment before reaching out to hand him the leaf. Then, as if having read his mind, she slowly pulled back the blanket that was still around him and loosened his bandages to reveal a shallow wound, now completely closed. His eyes widened measurably at the miraculous sight of a poisoned abscess that had nearly killed him less than 24 hours ago, now an average short-order flesh wound, well on its way to a mend.
"I bound it with fresh herbs while you slept," she said sweetly, and suddenly embarrassment struck him hard.
He had fallen asleep with her resting against his chest in the wake of an incredibly intimate moment, after which not a single word had been spoken. She didn't think that he hadn't enjoyed himself did she? He cursed himself for not having stayed awake. Then he realized she was watching him patiently, as he still held a large portion of porridge on his leaf and hadn't yet taken a single bite.
"This smells amazing," he offered shyly, lifting it to his mouth, and after he'd taken a nibble he let out a low and satisfied "mmm."
He hadn't recognized his own hunger until beginning to eat, but the bit of foliage was clean within a single minute. Smiling heartily she took a small dollop for herself and then handed him the bowl that he might finish off the rest. At first he didn't take it, even when his stomach protested, but when she gave him a friendly nudge he begrudgingly accepted, smiling back widely as they ate together in silence.
Afterwards she set about putting out the fire and regathering their things, and finally he stood, handing her back the blanket, his torso still bare. She folded it nervously, stealing glances at his chest, now even more alluring in the brilliant light of day. Male elves were relatively hairless, sinewy and lithe, but this dwarf was a solid mass of muscle, bulkier and somehow more virile in appearance, though slighter by far than any of the others in his company.
Wordlessly she produced his shirt from an errant pile, clean and dry, and he appreciatively pulled it over his head, leaving the ties unfastened.
"Do elves sleep?" he asked curiously.
"Only when we're sick, injured, or otherwise drained," she said, throwing the last of their load across her back. "Mostly we just rest, in a state of calm during which we remain awake and alert."
"Then I slept through the night last night while you remained awake?" he continued as they began to walk.
"Yes," she replied hesitantly.
"So then, you could have done anything to me while I slept?" he questioned suggestively.
Her pointed ears twitched in delight, and she couldn't resist teasing him.
She leaned down and whispered softly, directly into his ear, "How do you know I didn't?" Then both of them laughed heartily and they continued deeper into the brush.
"It's been a very long time," the elf said, scanning through the trees, "but I definitely recognize this part of the forest. If we rest a short while and then pick it back up, we should reach the cottage just before sundown."
She sat down gracefully upon the trunk of a felled tree and laid her pack and weapons down softly on the ground, unburdening herself. It was early in the afternoon, but they had already walked an extensive distance, and both were ready for a short break having had little recent rest. Their journey had been populated by cheerful banter, light-hearted jokes, and many thrilling and hilarious stories from Kili's childhood, as both parties had let their guard down wishing to make the most of eachother's company. Now, drawing nearer to their destination, Tauriel's heart began to sink as her mind turned to the impending moment when they would have to part ways. She needed to know that her warrior prince, Legolas, was safe, and to make apologies to her king for blatantly disobeying his orders. And her dwarf would continue on with his brother to Erebor, to embrace whatever fate had in store for him under the mountain.
"Do you think they've waited for you?" she asked, trying not to let her misgivings show.
"Fili?" he replied confidently. "I know he has. We haven't been separated for any more than a few days since... well since I was born, I suppose."
He looked into the distance, his dark smoldering eyes filled with sadness. She could tell that he worried greatly for the safety of his brother. Wanting, no needing to comfort him in some way, she walked over and planted herself down at his side, smiling reassuringly as he reached for her hand. Just two days earlier, she would have quiet disliked being held onto in this way by anyone, let alone a dwarf, but at the moment his simple gesture was somehow a source of warmth and contentment for her as well.
Later, as the cottage came into view under the last rays of daylight, Kili smiled up at her excitedly and took her hand again, this time to run with her across the clearing towards the tiny edifice, whose windows were already glowing with candlelight.