Chapter 9

Or

There Are Stars On Your Skin

"Hey Fili, just got back from hanging with Tauriel, what're all the calls for?" Kili called his brother after he had docked the boat. It had been a few months since Fili and Tauriel had met, and while sometimes Fili went out with his brother to see the mermaid, today was one of the days he had chosen not to. What was unusual about today was the seven missed calls from Fili when he had arrived back on shore, close enough to land to receive a proper cell signal.

"Be careful coming into town, I overheard some people were looking for you," Fili's voice was hushed, and Kili thought in the background he could hear people talking.

"What sort of people?"

"Those scientists on the sub, and they've got reporters with them."

"But they left town months ago, why are they back?" Kili wondered out loud as he walked down the pier.

"Those rich guys Tauriel saved, remember? Looks like they got the money to an expedition."

"So why are they looking for me?" Kili was unsure how he factored into this.

"They were chatting with the other locals to get information, someone dropped your name. Dr. Yarnsomething realized they never interviewed you or something after what happened on the sub. I think they already talked to Collin and Bran about it, you're the last person for them to talk to, based on what I overheard," Kili thought he heard a car in the background, and wondered where his brother could be.

"Yandell, I think. Next time we see Tauriel we'll have to tell her to be careful, she's been seen too many times. She missed you, by the way, and gave me something to give to you," he told his older brother with a grin, looking at the bag carrying the treasures.

"Oh, what did she bring us this time?"

"I think a plate from a ship for me, and she brought you a necklace."

"A necklace?" he could hear the slight disappointment in his brother's voice at that.

"Made of bones. I think she made it herself."

"That's pretty badass," Fili sounded much better about the prospect of getting a necklace made out of bones.

"Where are you?"

"Outside Dolly's, sitting at the bench across the street," that would explain the cars Kili was hearing in the background.

"I'll meet you there."

"I can get you some food and we can head back home, they're waiting around inside for you. Be a good way to avoid them for a little while," Fili offered but was surprised by his brother's sigh and response.

"They'll find me one way or another, may as well try to throw them off. Be there in a few minutes."

"I'll get us a table then."

Kili walked into Dolly's, heading straight for where he and Fili normally sat and doing his best to not look at the people waiting for him.

"Mr. Durinson!"

Damn it.

"Dr. Yandell… it's been a while. Any near death experiences lately?" Kili said with as polite a tone as he could muster in the situation.

"Thankfully no, but speaking of near death experiences, I wanted to talk to you about what happened, and see if you were interested in helping us find out what we saw down there," Dr. Yandell continued on as brightly as he could.

"Why would I want to get into a submarine again? I am never getting into one of those damned things," Kili declared, took the last two steps to the table where his brother was, and sat down.

"I respect that decision, but if I could just have a moment of your time," Dr. Yandell sat down next to Fili, much to Fili's confusing at being shoved over in the booth, "what did you see down there?"

"My life flash before my eyes. It's not something I want to think about," Kili snapped, although the scientist just took out his notebook and prepared to write.

"The locals tell me you seemed to have an interest in the creatures, have you gone looking for one? Have you seen one since the expedition?" Dr. Yandell pressed on, ignoring the sharpness in Kili's voice.

"No. Why would I go looking for something that tried to kill me? I may work a dangerous job, but I don't go looking for my death."

"Perhaps. What do you remember from when we were captured by the creatures?"

"Nothing I want to remember. You were there, you know what happened," Kili tried to deflect him, getting anxious by the questions.

"But you were alone, and I have statements from the rest of the crew, you're the only one we don't know about."

"Well I don't know what happened either."

"When we found you, you were wrapped in seaweed," Dr. Yandell said, a slight smirk on his face when Kili's poker face cracked for a moment.

"I don't remember you finding me, I was unconscious, remember?"

"Did you wake up when you were alone in the cave, before we arrived?"

"I don't remember. No," Kili said again, wondering what Dr. Yandell could possibly be writing in his notebook.

"Now if I remember correctly," Dr. Yandell flipped to an earlier page in his notebook to double check, "you were curious about the location of a sighting shortly after the expedition. You spoke with an Ed Ornberg, Greg Radake, and 'Hotrod.'"

Dr. Yandell paused for a moment and looked up at Kili and asked, "I've never heard anyone say Hotrod's name, what is it?" Kili was glad for the distraction.

"No idea. I don't think I've ever heard it before," Kili admitted. He had spent most of his life fishing here, but had never found out what Hotrod's real name was. Dr. Yandell considered this for a moment and made a note.

"Now then, am I correct that you spoke with them?"

"Why don't you ask them?" Kili said smartly, frowning when Dr. Yandell smiled at him.

"I did, I just want your confirmation."

"Then you have your answer."

"So what changed?" Dr. Yandell's question threw Kili off guard.

"What?"

"Well at one point there is clear evidence that you were looking for the creatures, asking about where they had been sighted and then leaving, presumably to go and see for yourself. And yet now you are quite adamant about not assisting us. What changed?"

"I realized I didn't want to die. There are things in the ocean that we should leave alone. We have no business going down that deep, it's not natural."

"But those creatures are coming to us now."

"And last year Hotrod was convinced he had seen Nessie. The year before that people thought there were giant crocodiles. Growing up there was a group of people looking for some other sea monster,"

"Kraken." Fili chimed in, remembering the ridiculous amount of cameras the people had with them.

"No, that was another group, I'm thinking the seaweed monster."

"Oh yeah, that was weird," Fili muttered, wondering what ever happened to that group. He also couldn't help but wonder if those sea monsters were actually real, if mermaids were real why not the Loch Ness monster?

"So you think the monsters the fishermen are seeing now are not the same ones we witnessed on our expedition?" Dr. Yandell said, frantically scribbling.

"Why would a deep sea monster come up to the surface? Point is, people didn't start seeing it until after we came back and told everyone about it. They are probably still at the bottom of the ocean, where they belong. Now, can I have a bite to eat, or do you want to ask my life story while you're at it?" Dr. Yandell took the hint, and after thanking Kili bid them both farewell.

Unfortunately, Kili wasn't off the hook yet and was ambushed by a woman armed with a recorder and notebook when he and Fili tried to leave.

"Mr. Durinson, a moment of your time, please?" the woman asked, not giving him a chance to respond as she continued, "I'm Murienn Kraus, reporter for-"

"Honestly, Miss, I don't want to talk to any reporters. I just want to go home before a long day of work tomorrow," he interjected, but she just kept going, ignoring his protests.

"You were on the expedition that saw the sea monsters, correct? My readers want to know, and many have claimed it is a hoax, what do you have to say?"

"We know more about the Moon than we do the ocean, who knows what is out there. Now, please get that recorder out of my face," Kili said, trying to walk away but the reporter stood in his way, pushing the recorder closer.

"So you did see something down there! Do you think they are dangerous? What do you think they are? Why are they coming to the surface? The public has a right-"

"The public has a right to leave the man alone! You've been harassing my customers long enough!" the two brothers looked back in surprise as Dolly appeared in the doorway.

"I have a right to-"

"I already told you to leave the premises! Now shoo with you before I call the police to have you forcibly removed!" the owner of the diner held up a phone to emphasis her point, making the reporter back down.

"Mr. Durinson, here is my card, when you want to have a proper conversation in a more civilized location, do give me a call!" she said with honey in her voice, shoving the card into Kili's hand before walking away. The brothers looked at the older woman and she patted Kili on the shoulder.

"Sorry about that, hon, she was harassing some of the captains earlier, looking for gossip about that sea monster. You boys have a good night!" they thanked her profusely and she bid them good night, returning to her customers.

"So, now what?" Fili asked as they walked down the street. Kili reached into the bag, pulling ou the bone necklace she had given to him.

"Here, didn't want to give it to you back there in case someone asked," Kili dropped the necklace into Fili's hand, and he raised it up to inspect it, letting it drape down his arm.

"Are these shark teeth?" he asked, looking at the massive teeth mingled between bones. It would easily loop over his head, and it definitely looked impressive with all the teeth and bones linked together, like some cliché voodoo bone necklace except real and therefore much more awesome.

"Think so. I'm gonna go back out, I want her to be as far away from here as possible for a while, just in case," Kili told his brother of his plan.

"It'll be dark soon," Fili pointed out, and Kili shrugged.

"It's not like we haven't been on boats at night before. I'll be back tomorrow in time to get to work, I promise," Kili said, parting ways with Fili to head back out to the boat. Fili nodded and waved his brother off, and Kili set back out again.

He was lucky this time, Tauriel was still near the surface and was confused but happy to see him twice in one day. She swam alongside the boat for a time before Kili cut the power, frowning while she happily jumped out of the water, circling the boat and clicking before she got closer. She poked her head out of the water, looking up at Kili with a smile, she had figured out how to do that from watching Kili and Fili, but her smile faded when she saw his grim expression.

"Kili? What?" she had also learned that 'what' went with questions, although she had not yet figured out the different words for different questions.

"There is trouble, Tauriel," he told her, and she cocked her head, clicking once. He sighed and extended his hand. She didn't take it, but she knew that it was an invitation to come aboard. She climbed onboard, hissing at the sun on the cloudless day. Kili hauled the mass of wet fabric he had used earlier to get her attention to her, and she crawled under the damp blanket to keep safe. Kili and Fili had found out the hard way that not only did Tauriel not like the sun, it also caused damage if she was kept in direct sunlight for too long.

Nestled in the blanket she asked again, "What?"

"There are people who want to find you. Other humans that aren't nice like me and Fili," she crossed her arms in front of herself, resting her head on her arms and looking up at him, not understanding.

"You need to stay away from here, for a while at least. You need to return home," she tilted her head to the side, clicking once. He sighed and rubbed his face, sitting on the floor with her and trying to figure out how to explain.

"Tauriel home. Humans hurt Tauriel," she pulled back her lips, showing her bared teeth at that. She knew what "hurt" meant, she had learned it when the sun had dried and cracked her skin, burning her.

"You need to stay away for your own good," he tried again, and it seemed she was beginning to understand, even if she didn't understand the words she understood his tone, and she hissed, snapping her teeth.

"I want to see you too, but people keep seeing you. You can't let yourself be seen, unless it's me or Fili. If you don't see the blanket, it isn't safe," Kili touched the blanket for emphasis, and she touched the fabric, running it through her fingers.

"Safe," she repeated, looking at the blanket, "Kili safe."

"Yes, I'm safe, and that blanket is safe. If you don't see the blanket, you aren't safe," he explained, before thinking of another way of explaining.

"Human see Tauriel, human hurt Tauriel. Kili see Tauriel, Tauriel safe." It had been Fili's idea to teach her the word 'see,' and it had involved more demonstrations. Luckily she had a better understanding of what 'see' was than what 'boy' or 'girl' was, it's easier to grasp 'see' when someone covers their eyes and then opens them. She had picked up the concept quickly.

"Tauriel hurt human," she replied with a snarl, and Kili could see her tail moving the blanket, flicking back and forth. Kili shook his head.

"Tauriel go home. Tauriel home safe. You need to be somewhere safe," she flared her nostrils and pouted, or at least it resembled a pout. 'Go home' was what Kili and Fili said when they left, and she didn't like the thought of leaving.

"Tauriel come back?" she asked after a moment, surprising him. He hadn't realized she had figured out what he promised her whenever he left, but it made him smile and nod.

"Eventually, I would like for you to come back. I'd want to see you again," he replied and she relaxed with his smile and lifted mood. She clicked at him, rolling onto her side under the blanket, and he obliged her request, relaxing next to her. She took his hand, inspecting it, always fascinated by his human body. He left her move his hand and arm around, flexing his muscles occasionally. She felt how the muscles moved under the skin, extending her own arm and doing the same to compare. But what intrigued her the most was the hair on his arm, as her own was smooth. She couldn't seem to understand why humans had so much more hair than her, and had spent hours touching his face, arms, and legs, marveling at it.

He felt himself relax, listening as she made soft noises to herself, as though making notes out loud to herself. Maybe that's what she was doing, making observations to herself as she tried to understand the purpose of body hair.

"The sun is almost set," he said more to himself, noting how dark it had grown in their comfortable silence. He had also noticed that she was starting to glow, like she had at the bottom of the ocean, pinpricks of light illuminating her skin.

"Hey, Tauriel," he said, getting her attention and pointing up at the sky, "you haven't seen the night sky yet, have you?" She looked up at the sky, confused about what he was pointing at. A brief streak made her jerk up in startled confusion.

"What?" she demanded, not understanding what she had seen or where it had gone. Kili chuckled.

"Shooting star," she looked at him, not understanding and obviously dissatisfied with that answer. But now the sky had her attention, not his hand, so he sat up next to her, looking up at the sky as the sun dipped below the horizon. She was silent for a long time, just watching the night sky in wonder.

"What?" she asked, pointing to the large light in the sky that didn't burn her like the sun.

"Moon. That's the moon," Kili explained, smiling to himself as he looked at her face.

"Moon," she repeated to herself. Then she pointed to another point in the sky.

"What?"

"Star."

"What?" she asked again, pointing to another dot in the sky.

"Star," she looked at him in confusion.

"Stars. They are all stars. Well there are a couple planets, but I don't know where," he said, gesturing to the multitude of lights that were slowly becoming visible.

"Stars," she repeated, making the same gesture as him by panning her hand across the sky before she lowered her hand, studying her own skin.

"Stars," she said again, looking at the points of light that dappled her entire body. She looked at Kili for confirmation and he smiled at her.

"There are stars on your skin," he replied, and she smiled back at him. Kili leaned back down, relaxing on the deck of the boat. She looked down at him for a moment before she mimed the motion, lying down next to him. Her tail curled around his feet, still under the blanket, forming a 'J' with her body around him.

"Here," he said, making her lift up her head so he could extend his arm, hoping that would make things a bit more comfortable for her. He didn't mind her wet hair on him, or being on the wet blanket, he was perfectly content to remain where he was with her pressed lightly against him, watching the stars with him.