Chapter Ten
The two of them stood there for several minutes, just holding each other. Kili was the first to let go, reluctantly dropping his arms and taking a small step back. Arirua smiled a small smile up at him, knowing that her cheeks were lightly dusted pink from the closeness. Arirua sat down on the bed, and turned her head to look out over Rivendell. She sighed, seeing the moon rising and the stars coming out.
"It is very pretty tonight." Arirua said, more to herself than to Kili. The dark haired dwarf heard it, and he smiled.
"Would the lady care to take a walk through the garden in the moonlight?" he asked in his cheeky way. Arirua looked at him.
"But, I was told to stay in the infirmary." Arirua said, trying not to smile, knowing that Kili was not buying it.
"And sense when does the great Lady Arirua follow the rules?" Kili asked her, bending down so that he was eyelevel with the star. Arirua's eyes flicked away from the dark ones looking into hers.
"I do try to follow their wishes. Rules are rules for a reason."
"But rules are made to be broken." Arirua looked back at his eyes and smiled, knowing that he was not going to take no for an answer. Kili put out his hand and Arirua quickly placed her hand in his.
"Shall we then?" she asked him, with a big grin on her face. The star hoped of the bed and took off running, dragging the dark haired archer behind her. Arirua lead Kili down several long hallways and underneath arches before they arrived at their destination.
"This is my favorite place in Rivendell." Arirua said as she stepped out from underneath the archway and into the light of the moon. Arirua smiled as she stepped back under yet another roof, however she could still see flecks of moonlight through the decretive ceiling. The star took the dwarf's hand and lead him to the other side of the small white pavilion which looked over the surrounding land. Arirua placed one of her hands on the posts that kept the white pavilion together. "This was my safe place, when I first came here. Lady Arwen showed it to me and I would come out here when I was homesick or needed to be away from others. I have always liked the view it provided me. I could see Middle Earth and I could see the stars and feel the moonlight." Arirua explained smiling. "If I was not here, I was practicing on the training field but that is farther from the infirmary than this was."
There were several minutes of silence as the star and the dwarf stood together, side by side, looking out over the vast surrounding land. Arirua played with one of the flowers that grew on one of the bushes that lay around the pavilion. Kili glanced over and couldn't help but smile a soft smile at the woman when she wasn't looking. The dark haired dwarf knew beauty, no matter what his brother said, and he knew that it was something that Arirua had. Kili knew that he was falling for the mysterious woman, but he also knew that he couldn't be distracted on this journey. But her pale hair and her laugh were just so distracting.
"Would you tell me another?" Kili asked, breaking the silence. Arirua frowned, leaning against the railing of the pavilion. Her head no longer troubled her, for she healed fast, but she wondered if she was still slightly groggy from the hit. "Stars, I mean." Kili said. "Could you tell me some more about the stars?" Arirua smiled at his request.
"Do the dwarves not have their own tales of the stars?" she questioned, laughing slightly.
"We do." Kili said, with the goofy grin that Arirua had grown to love. "But your stories are far more interesting. It's as if you've actually talked them and you know their personal stories." Arirua smiled, knowing that he really had no idea.
"Well, if you insist. Pick a star, and I shall tell you its tale." Arirua motioned to the stars that could be seen from where they were standing. Kili chuckled and pointed at one of the stars randomly.
"That is Condir, which means valor in elvish." Arirua explained. "Condir was a great warrior, one of the greatest of his people. But every great warrior is destined to fall in battle. I cannot remember the name of the battle that was his last but it was a great battle, far before the time of Erebor. He was challenged by the leader of the enemy, for they had heard the tales of this great warrior. The enemy defeated him, though it was not an easy task. Condir fought with all his might, doing everything to protect his people. Condir and his people won the war, but Condir was not able to celebrate the victory. When he passed over, the stars took pity on him, for they had seen his great deeds and allowed him to become one of their own. Now, it is his job to keep the darkness that wishes to plunge the light of the stars into nothingness away."
"Wow." was all Kili could say.
"Now you must tell me a tale. I have told you four, I believe I am entitled to one of my own. Tell me what the dwarves say about the stars." Kili looked out at the sky, trying to find star that he could remember a story for. His eyes were drawn to a star that sat farther off, away from all the other stars, lower and closer to the ground.
"That," Kili started explaining, leaning over the railing slightly to point out the star that he was talking about, "is Nondraen, one of the great kings of the dwarves. Stories say that he was a great warrior and his reign was prosperous. The legend goes on to say that he was put in the night sky so that he could continue to look over his people at night, when dark things are more likely to attack." Arirua glanced at him, as if trying to get him to continue. "That's it, lass. We don't really have tales for stars; we prefer to stay underground so we don't see them much."
"It is understandable. I have learned that dwarves prefer time underground with stones that shine like stars rather than above ground under the real stars." Arirua paused and pulled her hair back as it began to fall in her face. She looked up and studied the star. "My people have a story for that star as well. Would you care to hear it?" Kili nodded, wishing to prolong his time with Arirua before she would have to return to the infirmary.
"The name of the star is Randir. Randir was once an elf, if memory serves correctly. An elf who fell in love with a human woman. But then, in those times, the love between a mortal and an immortal was forbidden. But Randir could not deny his love for the woman. So, they would meet in secret, as most forbidden lovers do. And as time went on, their love only grew, but their love was still forbidden. The stars, who were then gracious and caring beings, saw the love between the two and the pain that caused them to be apart from each other. The stars offered the two lovers a once in a lifetime chance. They could join the stars and live in the heavens and shine throughout the night like the rest of the stars, but they could never return to Middle Earth, but they would always be together." Arirua paused, looking out at Randir who sat in the sky, blinking at her. She felt a hand rest on hers, and she looked down to see Kili's hand on hers. She smiled, and turned her hand so that she was now holding his hand. "The two lovers accepted the offer. Now they sit in the sky together, watching over those whose love is forbidden." Arirua pointed with her free hand, "Look there, right beneath Randir's star." Kili looked and could see another, smaller and fainter than Randir's. "That is Miswen." Arirua informed him. "She was the human girl that gave up her life to be with the one she loved more than anything."
"It's a very pretty story." Kili said.
"It is a true story." Arirua informed him. She cringed. He does not know what I am. Why did I say such a thing? Kili just shook it off; he knew that there was something strange and mysterious about the girl that joined their quest later but he could tell that she was not yet ready to let the company know her secret just yet. Kili looked at her and smiled. Before he could stop himself, the dark haired prince blurted out:
"You are truly beautiful." He quickly clamped his hand over his mouth, eyes wide in shock that he had actually said it.
Arirua looked at him; she could feel the blush creeping across her cheeks.
"You are to kind." Arirua said, letting go of his hand.
"It's tru…" Kili started. Arirua turned her head in his direction curious what made him stop. Kili motioned for her to stay quiet. Arirua frowned; Rivendell was one of the safest places in Middle Earth. What would startle Kili so?
Suddenly, she saw a figure standing in the entrance to the pavilion. They were wearing armor, which was strange for the elves of Rivendell who only dressed as so when there was war. Arirua made a reach for her sword, but was only met with air. Sythralen had said that they had placed her sword in her old room and she could retrieve it when she left. Arirua cursed under her breath in elvish. She was unarmed, something that did not make her feel comfortable, even in Rivendell. The shadow spoke stepped forward into the light, showing himself to Kili and Arirua. Once he stepped into the light, Arirua let a huge smile cross her face. She quickly ran across the pavilion, throwing her arms around the stranger.
"Haldir!" Arirua cried as she hugged the elf. Kili, who was still standing in place, frowned slightly.
"It is good to see you too, Arirua. It has been far too long." Haldir said as he hugged the star back.
"I have missed you so." she whispered to him. The young woman was doing the best she could not to cry, trying to blink back tears. Haldir had not been to visit Rivendell in such a long time, she had begun to think that her friend had forgotten about her. She stepped back from the hug, smiling.
"What brings you to Rivendell?" she asked him. "It is strange for you to leave Lothlorien without a purpose."
"I am here with Lady Galadriel." Arirua's interest was instantly captured.
"The Lady of Light is here in Rivendell?" she asked. Haldir nodded.
"My lady was called here by Lord Elrond to meet with the other protectors of Middle Earth." Haldir explained. "I was chosen to accompany her. And when I heard that you had returned from your quest, I knew that I must come and see you."
"It is good of you to come and see me, but I am not staying long. I will leave when the dwarves of Erebor leave." Arirua told him. Haldir frowned at her statement.
"Dwarves?"
"Yes, dwarves." Kili's voice said from on the other side of the pavilion, annoyance ringing loud when he spoke. Arirua took a deep breath to steady herself, preparing for the on-coming storm. She knew of the tension between the dwarves and the elves, and she prayed to the stars that Kili and Haldir would be civil.
"Yes. Haldir, this is Kili, nephew of Thorin, second heir to the throne of Erebor. He and his kin have come together to take back the Lonely Mountain from Smaug." The star could see Haldir's eyebrows begin to form a frown as he took all the information that she was telling him in.
"They intend to fight a dragon?!" Haldir questioned, raising his voice slightly. Arirua winced; she had never enjoyed loud noises or voices. They upset her, made her nervous, which often lead to her lashing out.
"If it comes to that, yes!" Kili said, raising his voice too.
"All you dwarves care about is the treas…" Haldir began.
"Enough!" Arirua said, feeling her anger boiling slightly. "Kili, this is Lord Haldir of Lothlorien. He is a skilled warrior and protector. Haldir is one of my closest friends." The two males looked at each other, and all Arirua could do was watch them, unsure what to do. She noticed Kili's hands were clenched tightly and Haldir's hand was resting on his sword. The three stood there in silence. Finally, becoming sick of the silence, Arirua said:
"I believe that I should return to the infirmary. They will be wondering where I have gone." Kili nodded.
"I must return to Lady Galadriel," Haldir said. Seeing Arirua's frown, he continued with a smile, "but I shall visit you in the infirmary once I am able. Then we shall talk at length." Arirua nodded and hugged the blonde elf again.
"I shall see you soon then." Arirua said. "Do not forget."
"I shall not." Haldir said, and then he was gone. Arirua stood and watched him go, sad to see her friend leave but she turned to Kili.
"Shall we?" The dwarf gave a short nod and started walking. Arirua frowned at his answer, but followed him. They walked back through the halls, this time in silence. There was no laughing or silly comments, just silence that reminded Arirua of cloudy nights.
When Arirua and Kili were close to the infirmary, Arirua spoke.
"Kili, what is wrong?"
"Nothing, Arirua. I am fine." Kili said, not looking at her.
"It does not seem like nothing." Arirua stated. "You have hardly said a word sense we have left the pavilion. Please, tell me what is bothering you." Kili looked at her and frowned. Arirua had to hold back a laugh at how handsome he looked when he was frowning. His whole demeanor seemed to change.
"It's just… it's… I mean… why? Why him? Why does he get to..." Kili said, yammering on in incomplete sentences. Arirua frowned, not understanding what the dwarf was getting at. She began tugging at her sleeves, cupping them in her palms like she usually did when she was nervous. She listened to Kili yammer on some more before it came to her. Her eyes grew wide, remember the things that Kili had said to her during their short time together. Arirua had never felt love for another person, but she had seen it before. It was something that made her see the good of Middle Earth.
"Kili," Arirua stammered quietly. The dwarf stopped speaking gibberish and turned to look at the star who had suddenly took an interest in her toes. Feelings had never been an easy thing for the star, "are you jealous of Haldir?"
There was silence in the hallway that they stood in. One could have dropped a pin and it would have been heard.
"Yes. No. I don't know." Kili said suddenly, causing Arirua to jump up slightly. "I've never been good at the whole relationship, love, courting thing. That was always Fili's area of expertise. I just, I just…" Arirua smiled at his nervousness. She took a step forward, so that she was within leaning distance. Using every ounce of courage she had, Arirua leaned forward and kissed the stammering dwarf on the cheek, causing him to stop immediately.
"You shouldn't be jealous of Haldir." she said, before quickly walking down the hall and opening the door to the infirmary. As she started to shut the door, she turned and looked at Kili. She giggled at the smile that was on his face. He quickly turned to look at her upon hearing the laugh, causing her to shut the door quickly so the dwarf could not see her blushing.
As she laid down on the cot that was hers, and all she could think about was Kili and this new strange feeling that was beginning to form for him.
A/N: HEYYYY! Guess what... I'm back :D Well, I'm here with a new chapter at least... See the white flag, don't shoot me. I'm so sorry for taking so long... this chapter would not agree with me for some reason. But here it is :D
Special Thanks: to FrankieFusciaxx (her name is pronounced Air-e-ura. It's all good I love questions, so thanks for asking :D), jefferyA (y'all this girl made some beautiful fanart for Arirua, so you should check it out ;)), Wise Owl Eyes (so she gave me a shout out so Imma give her one too, Owl here is writing a Hobbit fanfic of her own, it's called Wanderlust and it's amazing :D), REDRydingHood (awwww thanks), 88XeqtionerAngel88 (well it wasn't the brothers, but there was a little bit of jealousy going on ;D), SilverPenguin87 (awwww thanks :D), Dalonega Noquisi (awww thanks :) I'm glad that you enjoyed it ;D), Protagonist Of Life (same here, lol I can't wait to see what I write it :D), and sillystring-roxs-the-earth (awww thanks so much, I'm glad that you're enjoying her story so much :D)
Okay there we go :D Don't forget to check out The Great Assassin by Loki'sGeneral and Wanderlust by Wise Owl Eyes Love you all and don't forget to leave comments :D Cookies to all my readers, virtual cookies of course ;)