Author's note: Good job to JuliaB for winning! I might allow the others who commented the answer a little something as well, but I haven't decided yet. c: Oh and you guys don't have to but if you want to check out some of my original work my name on FictionPress is jjbugg. Just for future reference. Kay, I'm gonna write this, Tumble on Tumblr like a maniac, then go take a nap because I'm sick. Enjoy!
The elves greeted Tauriel with grace and welcome. "Why have you brought a dwarf with you? And where is our King if you have returned?" One of the dark haired guardsmen eyed Kili with barely concealed disgust, and Kili struggled not to scowl. Perhaps coming here had been a bad idea after all.
Tauriel didn't get a chance to answer, however, because it was then the guard noticed Gandalf. "Ah Mithrandir. I take it you are staying with us again?" The two guards didn't give Gandalf the same expression that they had with Kili, but Kili hardly felt envious. They didn't even notice Bilbo at all, which is what Kili longed more than anything.
"We are, and then we will embark when the first light comes tomorrow. Come, I must speak with you. Netholas, give each guest a room and make sure they are comfortable before returning to your post." Tauriel had turned back into Captain of the Guard, and Kili stared at her, mouth slightly agape. She was truly a woman to behold, and as the light haired elf guard, Netholas, led them off, she stopped him with a brush of his shoulder and leaned down to whisper in his ear. "I will come find you later. There is something I'd like to discuss with you." Then she was straightening up with walking away with the dark haired guard following right behind her.
Now that they were here as guests and not prisoners, Kili could take the time to really appreciate what beauty the elvish cities held. "Right this way," Netholas sighed, not particularly fond of being asked to show them around.
"You will do well to lighten your tone, Master Elf. We are not the enemy," Gandalf scolded the elf lightly, much to Kili's pleasure. If the elf was embarrassed, however, he didn't show it. Though, his step was little more pleasant as were his words as he described where they would be staying.
"I still prefer Rivendell," Bilbo uttered as he leaned over to whisper in Kili's ear. Kili silently disagreed. Rivendell didn't have Tauriel. As soon as the thought crossed his mind his cheeks blossomed red, and he wondered what she could possibly need to talk about later.
The trio was led up spiraling stairs towards the top of Thranduil's halls where the guest chambers were kept. Bilbo and Gandalf were shown their rooms first. Bilbo was ecstatic that he was going to get to sleep on a real bed after so long on the cold, hard ground. Gandalf disappeared into his room muttering about the Necromancer amongst other things that were unintelligible. Netholas frowned when he must have realized that he was being left alone with Kili, and he gracefully led the dwarf to his own room. "Here you are. Don't try anything. Unlike my Captain, I'm not so fond of dwarves and my hand wouldn't hesitate to rid the world of another one." The elf vanished before Kili could get a word out, and Kili stomped into his room, slamming the door behind him.
"Cursed elves," he muttered, studying the room with faint appreciation. The bed was made of a light wood, almost like the color of elk antlers. There was a small fire going in a hearth on the wall to his right, and there was even a writing desk with parchment and ink. A basin full of water for washing was nestled in the corner, and Kili went straight for it, having still been covered in spider blood. He poured the basin into the empty bowl on the wooden pedestal. The water was cool to the touch, but it didn't cause him to shiver as he plunged his hands into the water, cleaning his hands and arms from the black taint.
He slowly moved to his face, wishing they had shown him somewhere where he could bathe and get new clothes. He heard the slight shuffle of movement at the door. His hand went to his sword, a reflex, but when he saw the familiar flash of red hair his fingers relaxed. "Hello, Starlight," he murmured smoothly, turning his back to her once again to finish cleaning his face. When he turned around, using a towel placed next to the pedestal to dry his face, he noticed that Tauriel had also cleaned herself and changed into new clothes. Once again her bow was absent. She was barefoot, clothed into a loose green evening dress with one of her daggers strapped to her hip.
"I can show you to the hot springs, where you can clean your clothes and yourself as well." Kili watched her eyes unconsciously study his body, and a cocky smile graced his lips. When her eyes met his once again, she cocked her head to the side.
"What?"
"You could join me," Kili said, much like he did when he asked her to search him last time he was here. The words caused Tauriel's cheeks to blush, and she turned slightly away, failing miserably at preventing a small smile to turn her lips upwards. He had gotten an emotion out of an elf, something of which he felt rather proud of.
"No no. I think not. However, I do want to show you something when you are finished. So don't stay too long." Kili laughed at her rejection, not feeling hurt by it at all. He unclipped his belt, setting his sword on the desk as he pulled his boots off and wiggled his toes, sighing contently.
"You know how long it's been since I've been able to take my boots off without putting them right back on?" Tauriel laughed, shaking her head.
"I will never understand dwarves."
He clucked disapprovingly as she led him back down the spiral staircase, leading him towards the same area they had escaped through using empty barrels. She turned left where they had turned right, however, and Kili witnessed possibly one of the biggest hot springs he had ever seen. He was caught speechless. It had to be the size of Erebor's main hall, easily.
"I would receive another pair of clothing for you, but sadly we seemed to lack those to fit a dwarf." Tauriel lowered her head in respect. "I will leave you to your bath. I will wait for you back in your chambers." She turned to leave, but Kili's hands lightly brushed Tauriel's arm. My, her skin's soft.
"Thank you," he said when Tauriel turned to look at him questioningly. Her face crumpled into one of joy, and she nodded, then pushed him gently towards the springs.
"Go wash up. You stink of spider." Her tone was light and joking and Kili gaped at her for a moment before bending down and splashing water in her direction. She gasped slightly at the gesture, but her laughter bounced off the walls now as she disappeared back up the stairs.
Kili quickly undressed, impatient to feel the warmth of the water wash away the filth of the last year. He submerged himself completely into the water, content for the moment to just soak.
"Oh and Kili?" Tauriel's soft voice came from above him, and he jumped up in surprise, eyes finding hers above him as she leaned over a railing on the stairs, eyes sparkling mischievously. "Perhaps there is something down those trousers of yours." Her laughter bounced around Kili's ears long after she had left, and no amount of water could take the stain of the grin from his face.
With his clothes and himself fully clean and satisfied, Kili found Tauriel on his bed, book in hand. A small crease settled between her eyebrows as she concentrated on the words that were pressed between her fingertips. He knocked lightly on the door frame to alert his presence, and she looked up, still somewhat caught up in her book.
"Nice bath, I presume?" She mused, pushing herself to her feet and walking back over to the desk, where she set the book down and brushed her fingertips along its cover. "I always loved books. They're like little pieces of magic to be used whenever we start losing hope. I like them almost as much as I like starlight." She seemed to be speaking to herself more than for Kili's benefit, but she strolled back over, eyes blazing in excitement as she held her hand out to him. "Ready to see what I wished to show you?"
Kili nodded, taking her hand and allowing her to lead him outside. He was quite confused as to why she was holding his hand, knowing full well the comments that would be said about her if they were seen. However, he found that he liked the soft feel of them, intertwined in his rough, calloused ones, to care. It's all he could stare at as she led them higher and higher into Thranduil's halls, past several other elves, who watched them with disgust and slight confusion. It was only when Kili felt the brush of wind did he look up, noting that they were, once again, outside. They had gotten to the top of the door that sealed Thranduil's halls from the rest of Mirkwood. Tall trees loomed above them, their trunks settled behind them as they grew above the Hall's ceiling. A line of guard watched the sleeping forest for any sign of danger, and Tauriel relieved them with a sweep of her hand.
"I will call if I see anything amiss," she told them, ignoring the stares they gave her and Kili's intertwined hands. They disappeared back into the halls, and Tauriel turned towards the forest, and then looked up to the sky. "The stars are the brightest up here. Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly hopeless, I come up here just to look at them." Her words was simple but plucked a deeper cord in Kili, and he found himself looking up. Tauriel was right - they were quite lovely.
"Kili I-" her voice was cut off when Kili pushed himself up on his tip toes so that his hand could brush her cheek, guiding her head down to meet his. His lips brushed hers slightly at first, and then with more confidence as she accepted the kiss. Her hand clutched his hair, and he found his fingers weaving through hers, sighing in contentment against her lips. Now that his hands finally felt her hair, he was sure that he had never felt something softer.
Tauriel finally pulled away, her cheeks slightly flushed. "What was that for?" She whispered, staring into his eyes as if they'd hold all the answers.
"For being my starlight. For saving me multiple times when I was undeniably being reckless." He whispered back, almost losing himself in the pools of emerald that made up her eyes. She appeared reluctant, and Kili was about to ask what the matter was when Tauriel's gaze was directed to a point above his shoulder.
"What is that?" She asked, her voice slightly fearful as she pulled away from Kili to gaze into the night sky. When Kili turned around, he found that he could not see anything amiss.
"What do your elven eyes see, Tauriel?" He asked, squinting into the night to try and pinpoint Tauriel's distress.
"A dark cloud in a cloudless night. It moves much too quickly to be natural." Kili wasn't sure of what Tauriel spoke of, but he knew that it couldn't be anything good.
Author's note: Wow. This one was a tish longer. I am not complaining though - I had a blast writing this chapter! And finally they kiss. ;D Though, I don't want them to just get their happily ever after, so that's why Tauriel seems a bit reluctant. Any way, until next time. xox
