Fluff chapter alert. I guess you could call this a "filler." Nothing of crazy importance happens. No angry Thorin or murderous orcs, but definitely Kili/Tauriel time.

To my younger viewers: good news! No M content in this fluff :)

To my older viewers: sorry, no M content in this fluff :(


Kili rapped his knuckles on the heavy wooden door.

It was early. If there were windows in the mountain kingdom it would have revealed the sun was not yet over the horizon. Kili was surprised how well he slept the night before, given the fact Tauriel was just down the hall from him. He didn't think he'd ever forgive his smug brother for the prank he pulled last night.

"Maybe she isn't awake yet," the blonde brother said from a ways behind Kili. Both were prepared for the work ahead of them that day, but Kili wanted to talk to Tauriel first.

"I doubt woodland elves sleep in," Kili muttered. Less than a second later, the door swung open. His jaw dropped and whatever sarcastic comment he had aimed towards his brother disappeared.

Tauriel was in a dress. Not a uniform with boots and leggings or a worn, traveling tunic. The fabric hung off her shoulders, revealing her the pale and creamy skin that laid there. It clung to her chest and waist, framing the small body Kili knew he could span with both his hands. The light green material flowed to the floor, pooling around her feet. It reminded him of something the elf maids in Rivendell wore, not something he'd ever imagine Tauriel wearing. It seemed as though Sigrid had been correct when she mentioned merchants from the elf city.

"Quel amrun, my Lords," she greeted, smiling lightly at both brothers. Kili only swallowed thickly in response, eyes traveling over the long body before him. Fili nodded to her politely. "Where are you off to?"

They were dressed for heavy labor. Wearing thick gloves and the traditional heavy boots, Tauriel also noticed the cloths tied around their necks to be pulled over their mouths and nose.

"Most of Erebor is still a mess from that damn dragon," Fili growled. "We're slowly working our way into all the caverns and halls."

"Oh, well I'd like to help," Tauriel said happily. "What can I do?"

"I don't want you helping with this," Kili argued, finally able to tear his eyes away from her hips. "I just came by to tell you I'd be gone most of the day."

Tauriel looked over his head, most likely hoping Fili would back her up. When nothing came from the blonde brother, she placed her hands on her waist. Shaking her head, she gave an annoyed sigh. "I want to earn my stay. Everyone here has a duty to fulfill."

"Yours is to keep our son safe." Kili's hand wandered to her stomach, grasping softly at her sides. Her scowl softened, but did not disappear. "I know you are not one to just sit around, but you'll have to for a little while longer. There's nothing for you to do right now, my love."

"I understand," she admitted dejectedly. Tauriel wasn't used to having large amounts of free time. Back in Mirkwood, even after she'd been demoted, she focused on refining her already above average healing skills. Perhaps she could find a way to practice that here. "But I'm serious about earning my keep."

Kili chuckled. "I never said you weren't." Rising up on his toes, Tauriel caught the message and leaned forward to give press her lips against his own. Tangling a hand in her long hair, he press another light kiss to the tip of her nose. "I'll find you this evening. There's something I want to show you."

"I look forward to it," she smiled.

Giving a slight wave to Fili, Tauriel was left on her own.


Legolas often referred to her as free spirited, too adventurous and curious for her own good. Tauriel was always jumping at a chance to seen unknown sights and learn more about the world around her. However, that side of her left when the great mass of Erebor was presented solely to her. She'd only seen a fraction of the magnificent dwarf city but she felt like an intruder wandering the unknown halls alone. Sticking to the places she knew, Tauriel decided to she would wait until on the dwarves, maybe Kili or his brother, could show her around.

Just when she was about to retrieve her bow from her room and take Talagor out, Tauriel caught sight of movement in the large study she'd been sitting in yesterday with the dwarves. Peaking around the corner, she saw the halfling perched at the very table Fili had propped his boots up on. He was writing vigorously. Enough so, that he didn't notice the elf approach him.

"Good morning." He jumped, the quill splattering over the page, as he looked up frantically. Tauriel made a move to help, but didn't know what to do. "Oh, um I'm really sorry. I should have said something."

"Technically, you did," the hobbit chuckled good-heartedly as he wiped his forehead. "Good morning to you as well."

"Do you mind if I join you?"

He gestured to the chair across the table and smiled widely. "Not at all. Every good hobbit loves company."

"Not even if the company is elf kind?" she questioned, taking the seat he offered to her.

The hobbit set down his quill and shook his head. "You'll find no prejudice here, good Lady. In fact, I rather like elves. I plan to go back to Rivendell one day."

"Do you?" she remarked cheerfully. "Have you seen Imladris before?"

"As a matter of fact, I have. It was after Thorin and the others ate me out of food and home and wrangled me to join their quest. It was the most beautiful sight my eyes had ever gazed upon. It would be a foolish question to ask if you've ever been there, wouldn't it?"

Tauriel grinned. "I accompanied King Thranduil there many times when I was a captain. It truly is a radiant place."

He gave an agreeing nod, a welcoming smile on his face. Leaning forward, his brow furrowed as he picked up his quill again. "I don't think we've ever been formally introduced. I am Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. I stole keys from your guards once."

"I am Tauriel of the Woodland Realm. I saved you from spiders, then locked your friends in a dungeon."

Bilbo gave her nod that she returned. "It is a pleasure, Tauriel."

At the end of the day, Tauriel decided she quite enjoyed hobbits.

She spent her day with Bilbo. He was a gentle soul and Tauriel silently wondered how he made the trek across Middle Earth with brawny dwarves, but it soon became evident it was his intelligence and witty sarcasm that saved his soul.

They wandered the halls and caverns Bilbo knew, which was far more than Tauriel but still nothing compared to what there really was. She heard rumors that the great Dwarf kingdom of Moria took three days to travel through if you took no detours and it became apparent Erebor was no different.

Tauriel also discovered Erebor truly was a city. There were sections and areas for everything. Houses of unimaginable count were embedded into the rock on the upper levels of the mountain, while the caves and forges lied bellowed the gates. Somewhere down there, Kili was working with the others. Tauriel made a note to ask him to take her there one day.

"Gandalf the Grey is rather elusive," Tauriel commented from in front of the fire. Her fingers ran an oiled rag over the wood of her bow. Bilbo was once again writing at the table, finishing whatever letter he'd begun when she interrupted him this morning. "I've hardly seen him."

"Yes, wizards are rather odd," Bilbo agreed. "Between you and me, I think he plans to leave soon. He's not exactly one to stay in place. We planned to leave together, but my stay has been extended. Azog knows I was with Thorin. I'd be attacked my first week on the road."

"Then you'll be here to see the child born."

Bilbo looked up from the parchment, a smile tugging on his lips. "Yes, I suppose I will. Kili seems rather uh-passionate about it."

The last time Bilbo saw the young archer, he been yanking against Gandalf's grasp to defend his pregnant love against his king. Passionate was definitely the word.

"He's excited. Kili thinks everything will work out in the end," she explained, staring at the wood in her hand. "I'm not too sure. I know our son will be safe, but everything after that is unknown."

"Thorin is a mess," Bilbo said simply, quill still scratching in the quiet room. "He's grouchy, holds incredible grudges, and is one of the most stubborn beings I've ever met, but he loves his family. He's loyal and will do anything to protect those he cares about. Kili is his youngest nephew and he worries for him. That's all. He'll see reason."

"I hope so."

Tauriel shifted on the floor, attempting to stop a new ache that'd developed in her spine. She groaned when it got worse and set down her bow, placing both hands on the small of her back. As she arched, she rose to her feet.

"I'm to going to walk," she said in farewell to the hobbit. Bilbo gave her a small wave. "Kili's child is shooting arrows at my spine."

Walking down a long stairwell to the main hall, Tauriel noticed her feet ached too. Grinding her teeth in irritation, she stretched her back again. Still nothing. Now she knew why mortals always looked to elves in envy. Mortals felt common pain like aches and soreness. Tauriel didn't think she could go an entire lifetime of dealing with such trivial pain.

When she reached the base of the stone steps, voices came from one of the long chambers leading to the mines and furnaces. With Thorin at the lead, the dwarves came into view. Tauriel waited for them to come closer and was momentarily surprised when they did. All still wore cloths over their mouths and were covered in a thick layer of black grime. There were a few that she couldn't tell exactly who they were, but Tauriel saw her dwarf towards of the front of the line with his brother.

Thorin did not even look at her as he passed by, nor did his friend with the tattoos. Bofur waved and Oin nodded, along with a few others, but she was mostly ignored. Kili stopped in front of her and she smiled at his appearance. His long hair seemed darker than ever and the layer of dust and grime covered every inch of his body.

"You, my dear prince," she began, reaching forward to tug the cloth down. It pooled around his neck, but exposed the slightly cleaner skin around his mouth and nose, "are a mess."

Kili shrugged. The smell of smoke and metal wafted off of him. "And you, my winter starlight, are quite the opposite. I'll never understand how it is you always look so breathtaking."

Tauriel shook her head and pursed her lips. "Sweet words will not get me to share a room with you before marriage."

Kili feigned being offended. "I'm hurt, love. Do I look like someone who would want to steal your virtue?" Tauriel narrowed her eyes. "Only joking. Now, are you ready to see what I have to show you?"

"Now? You're covered in mine soot, Melamin."

"Aye, but I plan to fix that after we get there."

Tauriel eyed him carefully, a smirk forming on her lips. "Lead the way, my Lord."


As it turned out, Tauriel would not have to ask Kili to take her to the lower levels in the future. When she gestured for him to take her to wherever it was he had planned, Kili lead straight back to where he had come from. They wandered through large halls and caverns, lit with hanging torches. Tauriel was awestruck by the sheer enormity of it all.

"I'd offered you my arm," Kili began, as he led her down a stone walkway, surrounded by glittering cave walls, "but I wouldn't want to ruin that pretty dress of yours."

Tauriel smiled and reached out anyway, grasping his dirty bicep with her slender hands. "I don't mind."

When they came to the foot of the stairs, Tauriel gasped. The sound of rushing water filled her ears as she gazed at the underground waterfall. It pooled into a small lake, while a slow current pulled it through another opening, most likely leading to a mountain river. The caverns walls were high and glittered as though small stars had been forged into the rock. Smooth, black stone was under their feet, made so by the rushing water during another era.

"Oh, Kili," Tauriel sighed. "It's beautiful."

"Aye, it is." She looked down to him. He was not gazing at the cavern walls or sparkling water before them, but was instead watching her. Taking a hand from his arm, he pressed his lips against her pale knuckles, leaving a smudge of dirt. "Would you like to go in?"

"In?" she asked, confused. "You mean get in the water?"

Kili smiled, already kicking off his boots. "Are you wearing anything under that dress?" She nodded. "Then just wear that. I'm the only one who's going to see you."

Tauriel supposed it made sense. Although she was adamant on keeping their relationship proper this time, there really was nothing to hide from Kili. She was pregnant with his son after all and besides, it was likely the water would be able to help soothe her aching bones.

Kili shrugged out of his brown vest as Tauriel brought her hair to her front, turning to provide him a view of her back. "Could you unlace me?"

His rough hands tugged gently at the strings. "The day I say no to that question, shoot me with my own bow."

The dress pooled around her feet in shimmering mass of green fabric. Slipping her bare feet out, Tauriel was left in front of him wearing only breast bindings and the cloth leggings she wore underneath. Turning to face him again, her face grew hot when she saw his dark gaze travel over the length of her body. She realized this was the most of her bare skin that he'd ever seen.

Kili was obviously thinking the same thing.

Their first time had been desperate and quick. Love had been there, but it was not prominent. Desire and fierce passion fueled their bodies in that moment, along with the fear of getting caught. There had been no time for sweetness or savoring the feel of each other's skin. Instead, the necessary articles of clothing had been either pushed aside or pulled away just momentarily. Tauriel remembered Kili didn't even remove his gloves.

"You deserved better," he said suddenly, eyes still traveling over her exposed stomach. "What I did-."

"What we did."

"-it wasn't right," he finished solemnly. "I should have taken care of you. I should have done it differently. Found a way to make it better. Instead I took you on those Mahal forsaken ruins-."

"Kili, stop." Tauriel placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look up at her. "I had a say in it too. If I remember correctly, I asked you to. We cannot wish it didn't happen, for then we wouldn't have our blessing. We're doing things right this time, just a little late is all."

He smiled, turning slightly to press his lips to her hand. "You know, I will marry you one day."

"Oh will you?" she laughed, dropping her hands. Kili winked and began to shrug out of his dark blue tunic. "What makes you so sure I'll accept?"

"Be honest, my love." The fabric fell to ground. Tauriel was suddenly trying very hard to not stare openly at his bare chest. "Would you really say no to this?"

"You're ridiculous," she teased, striding past him to the welcoming water. Kili laughed behind her. Her bare feet padded against the cool stone and the slight mist in the air from the waterfall clung to her skin. The water came right to rock and she sat, preparing to slide in. "Is it cold?"

"Nah," Kili answered, sitting beside her. He was only wearing his trousers. "Before it comes here, it runs by the furnaces. Its nice and warm by the time it comes down that fall."

"Thank goodness," she answered, pushing herself into the heated water. It rose to her waist, but she was sure it would get much deeper if she were to go further out. Kili came in next to her, splashing slightly more than she had. Sinking down into the water, Tauriel sighed happily at the heat against her back. "I had my first back pain today. I decided I don't like it much."

Kili chuckled. "I'm sorry."

Tauriel was only slightly lower than him, for he was standing straight up. Smiling up at his dirt covered face, she laid her pale hands on his forearms. "I think I like you with your shirt off."

"What a coincidence, my lovely winter starlight. I think I like you with your dress off."

Before she could come up with a witty remark, her eyes caught something buried underneath his layer of grime. Raising a wet hand, she rubbed it furiously on his shoulder as her brows furrowed. The skin was rough under her hand, but the black soot soon disappeared and dark symbols were revealed.

"Is that ink on your arm?"

Kili glanced down at where she was staring intently at. "Aye."

"You never told me you had a tattoo."

"You never asked," he shrugged. "I have a lot of them."

Tauriel looked at him for a moment, then her hands were shoving his shoulders down fiercely into the water.

"Taur-!" His voice was cut off with a gurgle of bubbles as his head went under. Her hands were everywhere on his skin, rubbing furiously at his back and chest. Finally getting good leverage against the elf, he pushed past her scrubbing hands, spluttering out water. His now soaking wet hair was heavy in front of his face, and he wiped it quickly from his eyes. "What was that…?"

His voice trailed off when he saw her face, eyebrows pulled in curiosity as her fingers trailed the pattern on his shoulder. As if she were trying to memorize them, her hands traced every line of the thick, crisscrossed bars.

"Elves don't mark their skin," she murmured. The broad muscles of his arm twitched under her delicate touch. "Have you had this long?"

Kili nodded. His skin was growing warm under her scrutinizing gaze. "Near a decade. Fili has the same one."

Tauriel's attention moved to one over his heart. It was two words, on top of the other, in a language she didn't understand. The symbols were sharp and bold, not fluid like those in elvish script. "Is this Khuzdul?"

He watched the tips of her fingers press lightly into the letters. "Aye. The top is 'warrior' and the bottom is 'courage.'"

"It suits you," she mumbled. "Does Fili have those as well?"

"Same place, but different words," he told her, but no other explanation came. Tauriel decided to not to press it. Her hands slid up his broad chest, resting at the base of his neck as she looked carefully at the symbols. Kili's hands reached for her in the water. Callused palms held her sides carefully, drawing her close.

"The others?" she questioned softly, her breath caressing his jaw.

"On my back."

"Can I see them?"

"Later," was all he managed before his mouth was descending on hers.

She was always surprised how much she loved the rasp of his scruff of her skin. Leaning heavily into the kiss, Tauriel let her hands grip his well-muscled shoulders. Her fingers curled into his skin and, eager for more, she let her tongue touch the edge of his lips. Something between a growl and moan rumbled in the back of Kili's throat as he opened his mouth for her, sending a wave of warmth to Tauriel's stomach. She was vaguely aware of his arms constricting around her, capturing her against his chest. Their breaths grew labored and rugged. A legging covered calf snuck around his waist in the water.

Kili responded eagerly. Tangling a hand in her damp hair, he pulled her head back to expose her throat. Tauriel gasped for breath, clutching onto the skin of his back as he placed a heated trail down her neck.

"You have no idea what you do to me," he growled against her pale shoulder.

"I do," she breathed, mouth pressed to the thick, black bars on his skin, "because you do the same to me."

Tauriel placed her hand over the words on his chest, thumbing over them with deliberate slowness.

"If I had known my tattoos would put you in this mood," he said in a hoarse voice, pulling back to look her, "I would have shown you a long time ago."

Tauriel laughed, leaning to capture his lips in a lazy kiss. "I like them. They're very…you. May I see the others?"

Reluctantly, Kili detangled his arms from around her, turning in the water. The bars and shapes from his shoulder tattoo continued down the left side of his back, fading beneath the edge of the water. As she had with the others, Tauriel trailed her fingers across its outline. Kili gave a noticeable shudder.

Smirking, Tauriel turned to his other shoulder. This one was not large, taking up only a small part of his shoulder blade. It was a bow with an arrow lying above it. When Kili felt her touch that one, he turned his head to talk over his shoulder.

"Fili has a sword there," he commented, "with shield behind it. We have the same one in the middle."

Aligned with neck, but low enough that it would be hidden under the collar of his tunic, was a dragon. The wings were wide, stretching to the edge of the bow and arrow on the right side and the pattern on the left. The tail twisted, hanging down to the middle of his back.

"Dragon sickness runs in our blood," he told her. "We got it as reminder, so we never forget the weakness that we inherited. If we forget about it, it'll overcome us."

"You match your brother," she mussed lightly, examining the bow and arrow closer. "Do you think you'll get anymore?"

"I don't know," he answered, turning to face her again. He reached out and Tauriel settled happily in his arms again. Kili lowered himself further in the water, leaning against the rocky edge as he held her close.

"Do all dwarves get them? Will our son have to?"

Kili smiled into her hair, running his hand down the crimson strands. "No, only warriors and soldiers get them and it's not required."

"Oh." Tauriel snuggled her head under his neck, her long legs laid out on the rocky floor of the small lake. The water was soothing and she was finding sweet solace in Kili's bare arms. "I think our son will be a warrior."

Kili's hands wandered to her front, splaying across her stomach in the water. "Aye. He'll be the best of both races. Your swiftness and agility-."

"And your brawns and power," she finished. "I'll teach him to use duel daggers, you can train him with swords, and we can both teach him about bows. I wonder which he'll like more."

"Depends on which of us he takes after," Kili mussed in her hair. "With my luck, he'll stand a foot above me."

Tauriel snorted, pressing a soft kiss under his jaw. "I'm excited to meet him."

Kili's hands were tracing circles around her belly now, almost labeling the area that would be growing. "We still have a bit longer for that."

"Yes," she agreed, "but I have you to keep me company."

Rising a little bit higher, Tauriel captured Kili's lips once more.


Quel amrun-good morning

Melamin-my love

I adore the idea of matching bro tattoos and Tauriel being "what the heck. You injected ink into your skin?" but finding it 100% sexy.

*cough cough* Sigrid would love it too *cough cough*

Some people asked where I get my elf phrases at. Its on my profile