"She is far beyond me. She walks amongst the stars. She cannot be real," Kili continued. He found his grip on Tauriel's hand, and she in turn grasped his. She looked at him affectionately, and smiled gently. Each word, each action that passed between them tore at my heart. Was it all to come to this now? She would prevail in his heart despite the child that grew in my womb.
"She is here, right now, very much within your reach, little dwarf. She is real, and she loves you as you love her," Tauriel replied. She took his hand and placed it over his wound, which had healed well because of her skill in medicine. Tauriel looked to me, then. She smiled a warm greeting and beckoned me to her.
"Shall you see him, Kerra? He is healed and will live," she said happily. I complied and walked to the bed on which Kili laid. His eyes were drawn from exhaustion, and his complexion was pale and marred by sweat and dirt. He had suffered too much. I covered his hand that rested limply on his chest with my own and bent to kiss his hot forehead. He was still recovering from the fever the poisoned arrow had induced.
"Thank you," I sobbed quietly. Despite my heartache, I was immensely grateful and indebted to Tauriel for saving my beloved. The elf nodded humbly from her perch on Kili's bed and watched silently as I fussed over Kili.
"She is here. Kerra, she is here," he mumbled almost incoherently. I smiled sadly. Knowing he was safe, I would leave once more with Huidran to Mirkwood, I supposed. Thranduil would have me, and Legolas would provide education and protection for my child. I would be safe and happy, knowing that Kili was alive and free of the dragon, and happy with Tauriel as he wanted.
"She is; Tauriel saved you, and she is here, with you," I replied, caressing his cheek for the last time. But Kili frowned. He grasped my hand and held it to his cheek, looking at me with fierce intensity, marred only by the hazy exhaustion in his eyes.
"No. You are here. You have come from your place amongst the stars to me, and you loves me," he murmured. I stopped fast in action and breath. He had been talking of me? Again I sobbed, but it was tears of happiness that wet my cheek, not sadness.
"Kili of Durin," I began, but now with renewed wits, "you promised that you would not die, and you would return to me. But you have almost died – and not because of a dragon, I might add – and you have made me come to you."
Kili smiled that mischievous smile, the one that was reserved only for me; the one that held love. Suddenly he latched his hand behind my neck and brought me down to him for a fleeting kiss.
"It is because you love me," he smiled. And I could not argue with that.
He lives! What do you think? Please review and let me know if you have any suggestions or improvements you'd like to see. I hope you liked it. From now on, I'm going to be writing an alternative ending to the Hobbit. I hope this is ok with you guys...