I apologize for this fanfiction being so damn slow. I probably should've put a warning on the summary. Oh well. Don't worry, stuff is going to happen.

The first thing Tauriel grasped was the smell. It was the sweet scent of burning candles, flickering fireplaces, and deep Earth. She had never come across such a thing before, and she became distraught, thinking that she may have been locked away or found or-

But then, the memories came rushing back, like water pouring down her mind and bathing her heart. She started to blush and she let out a little sigh of relief. She blinked several times, trying to get her vision to settle, before she finally braced two hands on the bedframe and attempted to push herself up. She felt pain burst across her torso and arms, causing her to lose her grip and slip back down on the bed in a fit of gasps and irritated breathes. How odd, elves were never really plagued with such things. She was immediately concerned, and she peeled away the blankets covering her body, which had been stripped of most of its clothing, she noticed, and began to examine her arms and stomach. They were lined with streaks of irritated skin, little blotches of red, and cracked flesh.

Could elves honestly get frostbite?, She thought worriedly.

"Don't be so alarmed, you had a negative reaction to the healing potion we gave you. It seemed like a good idea at the time…" A voice called out. Tauriel quickly clambered to sit up, uncaring of the aches that shoot up her wrists and caused her skin to tingle. She spotted a small creature entering the room.

It was the hobbit. His arms were full of food, and he scurried over to her side, placing the items down on to the side table and then placing a hand on her forehead. She was puzzled. "Why are you touching me halfling?' She questioned.

He shook his head. "To check if you have a fever. I know elves aren't supposed to get them, but a hobbit can never be too careful." Tauriel nodded slowly, watching as he took away his hand and reached for a small bowl full of water and a crimson colored cloth. He dipped the fabric into the bowl, soaking the edges, before he began to wipe at her brow and cheeks.

She began to blush. Was every other creature on Middle Earth so intimate? She could not imagine Legolas doing such a task. But she was grateful, as she realized, the hobbit had helped her into Erebor, and now she had found her love once more. Maybe intimate was the wrong word, was this true kindness? It must be, but wouldn't kindness be allowing the person access to such items, so that they could do the task themselves, in private, and with their dignity?

But she wasn't losing her dignity, nor did she feel ashamed. She really had come far, so far from Mirkwood. Suddenly the world seemed so much more vivid than she had imagined, and she felt her breath catch, and then her brain caught up with her heart, as a wave of fear overcame her, fear of the unknown? How could that be? She had fought, she had seen, she had searched. Perhaps seeing Kili would settle her thoughts, but this was perplexing, utterly perplexing. She found herself both intrigued and terrified with the new world and cultures. He seemed to notice her thoughts, and he paused, placing the rag back down into his lap.

"Is everything alright?" He asked, concern marring his round face.

She was ripped out of her thoughts, and she attempted to smile. "Yes. I just, I have come so far, and I wish to see Kili again." She spoke quickly.

Bilbo hummed softly. "Ah yes, that makes enough sense. I suppose you are bit far from home, well, this is really your home now. But you probably know that. I mean, if you really did come here for Kili."

His words took her by surprise, as she was completely mystified by the hobbit's perceptive nature. Perhaps that was because he had to live with dwarves, they could be quite a handful. She took a deep breath. "I know, I just, wanted to be by his side," She stopped. "Have you ever been so entranced by someone, that you found yourself too confused to breath? And when you looked up at the stars, you found yourself thinking of them, and then, you found yourself so wrapped in the image of this person, that you almost forget everything else?"

Bilbo looked away for his moment, his gaze troubled. "Yes. I have been. I am," She raised a brow at his cryptic answer, but kept her silence. "But if you are speaking like that, than you really must be here for Kili. You risked so much I suppose."

He instantly brightened, stowing away his darker emotions, although Tauriel caught a glimpse of them in his eyes. "We all suffer through love." She replied. Bilbo gave her a wonderful glance, and she suddenly felt much warmer.

Maybe the dwarves had hidden this hobbit away to keep the warmth? That made enough sense, that Oakenshield line could be awfully greedy. In the back of her mind, she worried for Kili, but she pushed that thought down, that was something to fret about much later on-she had much more pressing issues to worry over than Kili's bloodline.

A few moments passed, as the pair sat in comfortable silence, the hobbit seemingly consumed in his thoughts. She would not question him, she decided, as she had no right to interrogate her rescuer, it was not necessary. The troubles of the heart are private, belonging only to those who suffer them. Eventually, he coughed, and she smiled slightly, trying to ignore the stinging in her back as she pressed up against the headboard. Now that she considered the room, she realized that the chamber was rather grand. It even had a window, which surprised her, as she thought all dwarves were utterly against any type of sunlight in their dark, deep homes. The bed was lavish, covered in heavy, patterned blankets and surrounded with furs. She spotted a desk, hand carved, sitting quietly in the left corner, covered in little notes and large stacks of paper.

"I am extremely grateful. If I could have your name..?" She began. Bilbo turned to her, smiling.

"Ah, well, thank you very much. I do want to help Kili, I really do," He stood up. "It's Bilbo. Bilbo Baggins. Pleasure to meet you Tauriel."

It sounded soft and warm, a perfect title for such a halfling. "The pleasure is all mine, I assure you."

He nodded, looking towards the desk. "Well, I ought to go, Thorin is probably getting rather antsy in that meeting without me, " He paused. "If you want to bathe, feel free, since we were not able to do so when you first arrived." He blushed.

"I will, thank you Master Baggins." She replied.

He nodded hastily. "Well, you're very welcome. Oh! And please don't touch anything in the cabinets, just as a warning; Thorin can get quite, uh, eccentric with some of his bathing products." The crimson spread across his cheeks and touched his ears. "Your clothes are laid out in there as well, so please, don't hesitate."

"This is Thorin Oakenshield's room?" She questioned incredulously.

Bilbo scratched the back of his head nervously. "Erm. His and mine that is. But we had a bit of a squabble, so he's sleeping in a guest room." She resisted the urge to laugh at his last comment. "Ah well! I better go! I'll be back in about two hours or so. Kili should drop by soon, he is so anxious to see you."

And with a click of the lock and the soft sound of feet, he was gone. She was amazed at the hobbit, never had she meet such a creature. And Oakenshield's consort at that! At least Thranduil was not here, or he would have been incredibly amused by Thorin's choice of lover. She blushed. "So that is why he never left. Rather a good reason I suppose..." She muttered.

A bath did sound nice though. She dreaded the thought of the hot water on her already irritated skin, who knew elves were adverse to dwarfish potions?

"Ah, but what kind of elf would take a dwarfish remedy to begin with?" She mumbled.

She managed to clamber out of bed, without falling, which she counted as a victory, and slip into the bath. She had to crouch as she entered doorways, but she was not bothered. The water sent tremors up her spine, and she felt her head spin as the heat made her temples pound and her vision blur. She did not know how long she spent soaking, but it was enough to put off her troubled thoughts. She was surprised at the quality of the washroom; it almost matched the bath Thranduil kept in his quarters. Although she believed he used it for much more than just bathing.

Once she had managed to lift herself out of the lukewarm water and slip on her clothes, her body felt invigorated. Although her skin still ached, and she felt pain lurking just beneath the surface, at least she was not coughing and shivering as she had been before. She wondered how long her energy would last. She shuffled into the main room, grabbing the bread and cheese that had been delivered earlier. She looked around once more, admiring the carvings on the stone walls. She recognized the dwarfish legend of the Arkenstone; such a tale had even reached her elvish ears, etched intricately above the door.

Suddenly, a knock resounded through the room, pulling her out of her concentration. She was silent, waiting patiently for any type of announcement. "Oi! It's just me!" Kili's playful voice called. Tauriel sighed, letting out a little laugh, before getting up to let the dwarf slip inside. He seemed so happy to see her, and she felt her heart warm. Her decision was just, it was so just, and every movement he made reminded her of such accuracy.

"Ah! You're awake and bathed! I'm so glad; I thought you would never wake." He commented.

"How long was I asleep?" She exclaimed.

He shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe two weeks, three..?" He smirked. She rolled her eyes.

"Are you sure you are not speaking of someone else?" She replied. He placed his hand on his chin, tapping his foot exaggeratedly.

"Nope. No I don't think so," He stepped closer to her. "I don't believe that there are any other elves in Erebor, Tauriel." He drawled out the syllables of her name, making each one twice as long as it ought to be. She looked down at him, which was something she would have to get used to, regardless of how much Kili grew in the future, and smirked.

"Is that so? I thought every elf in Middle Earth was flocking to Erebor. Oh, did I get the wrong mountain then?" She teased.

He leaned up, placing one hand on her waist, and stretching his back, allowing himself to place an awkward kiss along her jaw. "No, I think you found the right place."

"Well, I may have," She got down on her knees, removing his hand from her torso. "But I think you may have missed, just by a bit." He gave her a saucy stare, and she returned the sentiment.

To be honest, she did not remember who leaned in first. She blushed as they kissed, it was not something elves partook in very often, but it felt so right in her heart, and she had stopped denying her feelings. There was little passion; it was only warm, soft love. Nothing forced, nothing rough. They pulled away, both taking in little breathes, and he placed both hands on the sides of her head, allowing him to bring their foreheads together. As their skin touched, Tauriel began to store away this moment, she was making memories, like starlight. It was precious. How cliché, she thought, but she did not care. If she was ripped away from him tomorrow, which was utterly possible, she wished to have as many memories as she possibly could.

"I have waited so long for you." He whispered.

"As I have for you. We must be strong together Kili." She replied, lifting her hands to cover his.

"I will fight for you. I am not going to lose this. I don't think I could survive a second time." His breath touched her cheeks. She suddenly felt an overwhelming appreciation for intimacy.

"Neither could I. We will walk in starlight forever." She uttered her wish, and she felt him chuckle.

"I could not wish for a better future."

The door suddenly swung open, the two lovers too deep in one another to notice the visitor, not until their voices caused Tauriel to jump, almost falling onto Kili.

"Oh my valar!"

Yeah cliffhanger, review to see who it is. Seriously. Nah I kid.

Hehehehe! To review or not to review.

Anyways, I kind of wanted Tauriel to experience some sort of culture shock, as she could never truly predict what she would find in Erebor-she has never left her culture before! I will expand on that later. I'm still searching for those Comic Con tips-I will take anything you've got. I'm a newbie.