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THE COURTSHIP OF THE SPARROW-HAWK
Chapter 11 – Darker Days
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"Chasing Cars" Sleeping At Last
The brilliant blue sky and warm sun accommodated Eila and Kili on their day of riding and the grass was so deliciously green beside the rim of trees that Eila couldn't help but sink into it as they let their steeds graze.
"I'm glad I thought to bring a picnic." Kili grinned, carrying a saddlebag toward her and laying out a blanket. But as soon as he'd begun to lay out their lunch, a swarm of clouds gathered overhead and blocked out the heat of the sun, lending a mild chill to the air.
"So much for sun-bathing." Eila sighed.
"It's not so bad," Kili waved her over to the blanket and she sat cross-legged across from him. "Good food, good place, and the company of one of the prettiest lasses this side of the Misty Mountains." He grinned widely at her, holding out a small cut of cheese and winking when she took it.
"Sometimes, Kili, it seems as though nothing will ever dim your optimism." Eila smiled at him, taking a small bite of cheese. He offered her a smile and a slice of bread, lightly buttered. "It seems that once you've set your sights on something, you see it happily done." She wondered if he understood that she was partially referring to herself and how he'd broken her out of her shell.
Kili nodded, clearly catching her unsaid statement. "Not everything, but I'm glad to hear you say that. Fili would thank you for it."
"Thank me for what?" Her eyebrows shot up as she nibbled on the bread.
"You haven't been the only one healed by this marriage."
Eila paused in her chewing. Her husband's face was completely unreadable and he offered no other words, leaving her to puzzle over his meaning.
"There were darker days," He said with such weight that she felt shy of prying further. Kili stared at the ground for a moment, looking lost in memory. "Days when I thought we wouldn't make it… when the quest would claim our lives." There was a shadow over his face Eila hadn't seen before. The dwarf prince hadn't spoken much about their adventure in reclaiming Erebor, but Eila could recall Fili mentioning the changes in Thorin's company after the Great Battle.
"You once asked me why my brother pressed me to marry so swiftly to someone I'd never met." Kili's voice broke Eila out of her musings and she trained her eyes on his face. There was age there, a tiredness that she was beginning to see. "And the quest was part of it. We sacrificed so much to retake Erebor… and when all was said and done, it seemed like we gave too much."
Reaching out to set her hand lightly on his over the picnic blanket, Eila brought herself to sit closer to her husband. Kili squinted at her through eyes that seemed to be looking for something and then toppled backward, pulling her with him so that they lay side by side on the grass.
Nestling her head on his shoulder and into the bend of his neck Eila scooted herself to lay close beside him. Looking up into the sky with one arm raised up for his head to rest against, his other arm wound around Eila, warm fingers combing softly through her long hair and grazing her backbone in a way that sent tingles all the way to her feet.
"King Fili required you to marry to give you—"
"A reason to keep going." Kili answered in a rough voice, as though he were ashamed. "Does that offend you?"
Eila snorted. "No. It was a desperate risk, but he did it because he loves you."
Kili tilted his head to look down at Eila's nose. "Good thing it worked."
"Mm, did it?" She sent him a wry smile.
Eila expected him to say something playful, but instead his body went rigid and his arm around her tensed. At the back of her mind, she worried she'd gone too far, but when Kili immediately sat up to look around them, she realized he was assessing their surroundings for some kind of danger.
"Wait here." He pointed at the blanket, rising to his feet and walking away from it at a speedy pace.
Eila was stumped and watched him in shock. What had he heard? But as she turned her head to watch him speak to the chaperone guard, she began to hear what the prince's keen ears had already picked up on: The hoof-beats of horses approaching.
Standing and squinting in the direction of her husband and the guard, Eila caught sight of a party of ponies and a wagon approaching. There was a dwarven lady just behind two gaurds, riding side-saddle and holding herself in such a regal manner that Eila was certain she was royalty. She was certainly the most beautiful dwarf Eila had ever seen.
Long waves of golden-blonde hair rolled in waves down the elegant lass's shoulders, which were covered in white and grey furs draped along her jewel-studded collar, which came up high soon her neck. Her ruby-red lips were visible even from the distance and her sky-blue cape whipped behind her even in the meager wind.
As the two guards made their approach atop their steeds, they spoke to the guard standing beside Kili. Eila stepped forward to join Kili, certain that the newcomers meant no harm, and was close enough to hear when the beautiful lady spoke.
"I'm sure that won't be necessary as Prince Kili and I are very closely acquainted."
The lady then slid from her horse, strode confidently over to Kili, and planted a very heated kiss on his lips.
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In no way, my dears, have I forgotten about this story. I merely lacked a little inspiration
and clearly have got it back ;) Please forgive any typos- lately, my method of writing has been very
"fly by the seat of my pants" "get it out there as quick as possible".
This story will end when I've written the words "THE END", so until that point, just keeping checking in, eh?
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Want a Kili and OC humorous parody? Try HOW TO WRECK A MARY SUE
Kili and Danika are tired of being pushed around in fan fiction stories and make a pact to defy writer's prompts, but do they have any idea what will happen if they don't play by the rules? Guest appearances from Luna Lovegood, The Doctor, Sherlock, and others!
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Want someKili/Tauriel romance/adventure? Try STARS AND HAMMERS
Fluff, Drama, Romance, Hurt/Comfort - This is a compilation of one-shots following Kili and Tauriel's one-year adventure as they accompany Bilbo back to The Shire (after the Battle of Five Armies) and then return to Erebor.
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Want some Fili/OC romance/adventure? TryGOLD AND FIRE
Fili and Nur marry in secret just before he leaves for Erebor, but what is a lonely wife to do while her husband is braving life and death for their future? Covers the Battle of Five Armies and afterward.Explanations for some of the actions within the movies as well as some behind the scenes! A sequel to GEMS AND POISON
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Want some Thorin/OC romance/angst?TryJEWELS AND DAGGERS
Just as Thorin becomes engaged to be married, the dragon attacks Erebor and all is thrown into chaos! Men with wicked intent take captive some of the wandering dwarves- will Thorin, Frerin, and Dwalin be able to rescue the enslaved dwarves, including Runa, Thorin's beloved?
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