Title: Sky Full of Stars
Author: LastWaterBender
Fandom: The Hobbit
Pairing: Kili X Tauriel, with one sided Legolas X Tauriel
Rating: This Chapter is M
Summary: Post Battle of Five Armies. Everyone survives. Tauriel discovers a life changing secret that starts new problems between the very new relations between the Elves and the Dwarves.
It had been over a week since Kili had talked to his uncle. In that week, Kili and Tauriel had made themselves scarce, only to be seen at meals and even then they had kept to themselves.
Bofur uncomfortably referred it to their 'honeymoon stage,' at which he gained a roll and some mashed potatoes to the face. True, they had made love more times than he would admit too-breaking in their new living space, truth be told that Tauriel's pregnancy had made her insatiable and not that he minded.
It was a Tuesday, the sun promising to stay out the majority of the day when she sat on the bed braiding her hair. Kili dressed and watched as she pulled her long tresses to where they needed to go. "Is something on your mind?" Kili asked, pressing a kiss to the top of his head.
"Can we go to Dale?" She asked meekly, almost afraid that he would tell her no.
Kili smiled. "Of course. Do you mind if Fili comes with us? He's asked to join us in our adventures for the day."
"I would enjoy his company." She responded standing up. Kili admired her body, the curve of her stomach becoming more and more defined by the day. He handed her the cloak from the closet before putting on his own and they left the room.
They found Fili in the Great Hall and he joined them with a right smile on his face. It was as if the spring day was calling for them. The warm sun shown high in the cloudless sky as they made their way into the city. Dale had changed so much since she was there last, the night her baby was conceived.
Dale was busy, filled with people in the market, kids playing in the street and people rebuilding the damaged buildings. The men didn't take notice to the dwarves, most of them used to them around to help repair the city, but they took interest in the elf once she removed the hood of her cloak and her ears were revealed.
Though her ears could hear the whispers of curiosity, but she ignored them as she walked stall to stall taking in the colorful wares on the tables that lined the market street. Fili and Kili stood back at watched her close her eyes and allow the sun to warm her up, she looked absolutely free.
It was a good look on her. She walked elegantly between each stall and examining all the goods on display. Fili had left them to head to the smithy, dropping off some knives to be sharpened.
They reached the center square when her name was squealed out in delight, followed by footsteps on the cobblestone. She turned to see Tilda running to her with a bright smile on her face. "Tauriel!" She said excitedly running towards her.
Tilda threw her arms around her middle. "Hello Tilda." Tauriel said happily, kneeling down to hug the girl properly. "Look how you've grown!"
Kili watched Tauriel listen intently to how much the younger girl had missed her as Fili returned with the rest of the former bargeman's children. "Good morning, Kili." Said Sigrid with a hug. "We haven't seen you in so long."
He laughed returning the hug and hugged Bain. "I know, I have missed you all." He said and both of them turned their attention to the elf. Kili turned to his brother and laughed at their dismissal.
"Seems like they were done with you." Fili commented with a chuckle as they watched Tauriel hug each of them. He had never seen Tauriel so animated before, talking to Bard's older children while Tilda held her hand tightly, playing with her fingers.
Kili shrugged. "An elf-maid is definitely more interesting than a prince of Erebor." He said with a chuckle. Tauriel stood up and hugged the other children, she had gotten so close to them before Smaug had attacked Lake Town and hadn't seen them since she had returned to the Woodland Realm.
"You will always lose when the she-elf is involved." Said the familiar voice of Bard, the Master of Dale approaching them from behind with an amused look on his face. "Tilda hasn't stopped talking about her since last week when Fili stopped by." His kids enjoyed it when Fili and Kili stopped by about once a week, but it was a real treat to see the elf who Bard knew wasn't supposed to be there. "We were about to head back for some tea and cookies, if you care to join us."
Tilda cheered and pulled on Tauriel's hand towards their home. "We would love to." Kili said and they followed the older children back to their home. It was nicer than the one they had in Esogarth, a luxury that the master had allowed himself.
Once inside Tauriel took off her cloak and handed it to the outstretched hand that belonged to Kili, it gave the children the first view of her stomach. Sigrid gasped nearly silently, Bain did not react, but little Tilda squealed in delight. "You're having a baby!" She squeaked excitedly and clapped her hands.
"I am." She said and Tilda threw her arms around her again excitedly, babbling about how she loved babies, Tauriel sat down on the bench and the young girl stood right next to her chirping in a pitch that Kili found hard to hear. Sigrid sat down next to the elf and filled in her excitement when Tilda stopped to breathe. Bain only rolled his eyes and disappeared, to do more manly stuff.
The two dwarves followed Bard into the kitchen when they noticed the look of surprise on the man's face. "Thranduil did not mention that his Captain of the Guard was pregnant when we corresponded last."
"She has not been the captain since they returned to the Greenwood." Said Kili, sharing a look with his brother.
Bard's face fell. "He hadn't mentioned that, in fact he still thinks very highly of her." Bard said confused. "Thranduil always mentions what his son was up to and always about the captain that he refers to as his daughter. He even sent me a letter that arrived yesterday."
"How do you correspond?" Asked Fili with concern.
"Through the mail post." He said as if it was the most obvious answer. "I send it through courier down to Esgoroth and they make the exchange."
"Have you seen any elves in Dale in the past week?" Asked Kili as Bard placed the kettle on the stove.
The man shook his head. "No, other than Tauriel of course." And that was when Bard realized that he was in the middle of something bigger than himself. He rolled his eyes and glared at the dwarves, his kingdom was the neutral party and now he was hosting one of the Woodland Realms missing person. "King Thranduil doesn't know that she is here. . ."
"He doesn't know that she is pregnant, either." Kili added.
Bard ran his hand through his hair. "That is quite the predicament." He said, knowing full well that it wasn't long until Thranduil found out and he was going to be in the middle of it all. "The only think that could make this worse is if she was pregnant with a dwarf. . ."
The brothers shifted uncomfortably and took an identical deep breath. "She is?" He asked with raised brows. "Let me guess, it's one of you that is the father." Fili looked to Kili and Kili didn't shy away. "Why don't you just going knock on his front gate and ask him to put an arrow through your brain, because he is going to kill you."
Kili glared at the man. "If I wanted your advice, I would have asked it the night my child was conceived. . ." He growled.
Bard held his hands up in surrender and Fili put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I do not want to be in the middle of a family turf war." He said in his defense.
"We will do our best to keep it from a turf war." Fili said, holding his brother's arm tightly. "Besides Thorin will not allow for it to get that far."
It was the younger dwarf who glared at his brother when the conversation ended. The tea kettle whistled. Bard pulled out some bags of tea and some mugs, placing them on a tray for Fili to carry out. Kili was handed a plate of cookies and followed his brother back to the sitting room. Tauriel looked up with a bright smile that fell slightly at the sight of Kili's frown. She tried to read him, but was brought back when he smiled back at her before taking a seat next to her. Her small hand found its way into his much larger hand as they sipped their tea and Tilda spoke excitedly about her new friends.
It was late into the evening when they said their goodbyes. Tauriel promised to visit the children again soon and the dwarves thanked Bard for his hospitality. The man grabbed Kili in a tight grasp and whispered. "I will not say anything about her, but I cannot stop him from finding out." He whispered and Kili watched Fili help Tauriel with her cloak. "I cannot take sides in this matter."
"I do not expect you do." Kili said gently. "I only wish you would allow her to visit your children, they make her happy."
Bard nodded. "She is always welcome."
Twilight set in when they started to walk back towards the mountain. Kili's mood drastically changed as he listened to the stories that Tilda had told Tauriel, it was nice to see her so full of laughter, which was egged on by his brother as he allowed his mind to wander.
"Look! The first star!" Said Tauriel pointing at the light that appeared in the night. "Elentari, the first star of spring."
The three stopped to admire it and he closed his eyes, in the old dwarven customs that if you saw the first star of the night, then you were granted a wish. He hoped that his uncle would see how amazing she was and he hoped that King Thranduil will let her go, but his wish was that she would always be this carefree and happy.
As he opened his eyes, a loud rumble from inside the mountain disrupted the peaceful night. The three looked at each other as it happened again, with a sprint the three of them ran back in through the large gate to figure out what was causing the rumble.
