A/N: Today we get to see a variety of Tauriels: caring!Tauriel, slightlyawkward!Tauriel, and, my recent favourite, tipsy!Tauriel. Also, a bunch of other characters and character features. I hope you enjoy this chapter and am quite curious of what you think as this was a bit of an experiment to me! Are you satisfied with how I wrote the Kíli-Tauriel interaction in various situations? Do you think I did a good job or was it awful? Let me know in any case J
Enough from me, just one last thing – Thank you, all of you, for your more than lovely and encouraging reviews!
Disclaimer: Guess!
Chapter 11: Departure from Rivendell
The next days were, compared to the previous ones, rather boring. Kíli spent his time sleeping, which left Tauriel somewhat on her own, as she couldn't spend all her time sitting at his bedside. Especially not, after the annoyed looking elf found her at his side again, the morning after they had used the healing fire for the last time.
He hadn't said anything but when she had turned up for a shared breakfast with Lord Elrond, Bilbo, Gandalf and a couple of other elves, he had shot her a sour look and hadn't spoken to her since. Not that she minded, but his rude behaviour wasn't exactly putting her at ease. She knew they'd be met with this kind of reaction wherever they went but finding it here, in Rivendell, after Lord Elrond had so willingly accepted them into their home, was unpleasant.
Kíli on the other hand, was blissfully unaware of the slight hostility some of the elves showed towards Tauriel. Most of them knew about the "disagreement" she has had with Thranduil and were suspicious about why she was willingly spending so much time with a dwarf. When somebody had questioned her behaviour, she had nearly lashed out at them, tired of the whispers behind her back. "I made a promise" she had answered in a voice that forbid further questions, neglecting to mention that the promise was as much to him as it was to herself.
Meanwhile, Kíli slept a lot. Whenever he was awake, either Bilbo or Tauriel sat by his side, made sure he ate and drank enough and kept him busy with conversations. Roughly a week after Elrond had declared the healing fire a success, Kíli had confessed to Tauriel how much he missed his brother. She had, once again, taken his hand in hers, tracing random patterns on it and asked for stories about the brothers' childhood. Kíli had happily obeyed and thus she learned a lot about the company's journey, Kíli's and Fíli's childhood in the Blue Mountains, of the death of their father and, consequentially, about their uncle Thorin.
"He was a good dwarf", Kíli sighted with a heavy heart and Tauriel squeezed his hand in sympathy. Her heart ached for the young dwarf, now more than ever, as she knew how much more than an uncle Thorin had been to him.
"I'm sure of it. And I am sure he would have been a good king."
Kíli grew pensive after this and after moment of silence he reluctantly told her about Thorin's downfall. It still troubled him to think about the dragon sickness and he confessed that he was more than glad that Fíli had agreed to giving generous shares of the treasure away to the men of Dale and the elves of the Woodland Realm.
"I think Thorin would have been proud of him", Kíli ended and found the elf smiling at him.
"He'd be a fool not to", she said and Kíli shot her a cheeky grin.
"Well, I'm not sure how proud he would have been about this" he answered, gesturing between them. Tauriel couldn't help the chuckle escaping her lips and to her surprise, Kíli joined in.
"It's good to laugh", he said after a moment, still smiling at her.
"By Mahal, he would have been furious!" he added, imagining his uncle's reaction to his relationship with the elf.
Suddenly, the mirth was gone from his features and was replaced by a sorrowful expression. Tauriel saw tears shimmering in his eyes and pulled him into a wordless hug, while Kíli allowed his tears to fall freely, slowly drenching the fabric covering her shoulder. She didn't know how long she held him or when his hands balled into fists, clutching the fabric of her tunic, holding on to her like she was the only thing that kept him from drowning. Not knowing what to do, Tauriel pressed a kissed onto his head and started stroking his back in what she hoped was a soothing manner. The elf felt terribly sorry for the dwarf and longed to comfort him but she really wasn't at ease with the situation. She felt awkward. Suddenly, her arms were too long and she didn't know what to do with the hand that wasn't rubbing circles on the dwarf's back. Holding Kíli was nice and it seemed to work, which she was incredibly grateful for, for she was a warrior. She fought, she killed and she knew how to protect form foes and danger, but this was new.
A while later, the dwarf in her arms shifted and his eyes found hers.
"Sorry", he mumbled, clearly embarrassed about his outburst. He stubbornly wiped his hand over his eyes, trying to get rid of the tears.
"It's fine", Tauriel answered, lacking the appropriate words. Yet, Kíli seemed to understand, offering her a grateful, if a little shaky, smile. He absentmindedly wrapped a strand of hair around his finger, playing with it.
"Did you know that read hair is considered a sign of rare beauty among our kind?" he asked, deliberately changing the topic. Tauriel took the hint and shook her head,
"Oh but it is!" he exclaimed. "My cousin's got red hair and even though he's barely of age the lasses are trying to catch his eye."
The elf's smile was enough motivation for Kíli to launch into another tale about the dwarves of the Blue Mountains and soon, they were laughing again.
Tauriel cherished the moment for two reasons. First, she knew he'd soon be able to walk again, which did, of course excite him, but it also meant prying eyes and suspicious glances everywhere, and, secondly, he made her feel beautiful, which was something nobody had bothered to do in a very long time, not after her parents had passed away when she was still a child.
The next two weeks passed in a rush, not only for Tauriel and Bilbo, who had started to prepare their departure to the Shire, but also for Kíli, who was finally allowed out of his bed. Despite still being a little unsteady on his feet, he had taken to wandering around Rivendell on his own, sometimes bumping into one of his friends or one elf or another. Most of them paid him no mind whereas others pointedly ignored him or grumbled their disapproval for his wanderings. Still, the dwarf enjoyed the liberty to move around relatively freely and he even took the time to write a letter to his brother.
Writing was generally not something he enjoyed but now that he had not seen or heard of his brother for nearly two months, he realized that there was no other way to communicate with him, which is, why he had begrudgingly asked Tauriel to find some parchment, ink and a quill for him.
Dear Brother, he wrote, starring at the words and ridiculing their formality in his head. It was strange, addressing his brother like that but he couldn't very well start writing without a more or less formal greeting and he wasn't sure if his brother would appreciate being referred to as "regal idiot". The thought made Kíli chuckle and he contemplated changing the greeting after all.
Then he thought of other people who might read his letter and decided that Balin would probably not be very pleased, as he remembered how often the old dwarf had scolded him for his lack of sincerity.
We have arrived in Rivendell a while ago and Lord Elrond was actually able to heal my sorry arse. I don't know how you're doing, being the king and all that, but I am sick and tired of the elves of Rivendell. Most of them have been nice enough but some of them are downright rude. I think they even started ignoring Tauriel because she talks to me. And I can't bear their gentle speech and light steps anymore. Don't get me wrong, I am more than grateful for their hospitality but I am more than happy to be turning my back on them soon. In two days, we'll be starting our journey to the Shire and our burglar is more than excited. He won't shut up about his hobbit hole and all the pipe weed he intends to smoke once he's back. Well, he's gotten me curious about that, at least.
Gandalf will be travelling with us for a while but Bilbo mentioned that he'd be leaving before we reach the Shire. Apparently, he's got some business in the South. I just hope he visits you and makes sure you are okay.
Kíli didn't really know what else to write. The important bits were that he was okay and that they'd be leaving for the Shire soon. Well, and there was the matter of Tauriel but he didn't know how to bring that up without raising his brother's suspicion. Obviously, Fíli wasn't blind or stupid but that didn't mean it was wise to outright tell him how things had changed.
"Oh, and the elf is coming with us" seemed wrong and way too impersonal.
Tauriel will be coming with us for security and I think she wants to see the Shire, after all the tales Bilbo told her.
Yeah, that's appropriate, Kíli thought, and, not bothering to read his letter a second time, signed it in his messy scrawl.
Remember your promise. I'll be expecting your visit!
He added before blowing on the letter and rolling it. For once, fate was kind and he managed to find a raven willing to act as a messenger for him. At least, he assumed that was the case, as the bird stretched out its leg. Kíli took that as an invitation to bind the letter to it, hoping it would find the way to the Lonely Mountain.
Their last day in Rivendell was soon upon them and, to Kíli's and Bilbo's delight, the elves were celebrating their departure. Bilbo suspected that most of them were actually glad to see them leave but that did not mean they couldn't enjoy the feast.
The food was as good as on the feast they had had one their arrival, many months ago, and the wine was even better. At least in Kíli's opinion, who hadn't had a drop of alcohol since … he couldn't even remember when.
The merry atmosphere made Kíli painfully aware of two things. First of all, it reminded him of his brother, who should have been here, and secondly, and this was proving to be a bit of an inconvenience, it brought to his mind that despite all the happiness, he missed the closeness to Tauriel which he had experienced during the days he had spent in bed. Of course he was more than happy to be alive and well but that also meant being careful where ever they went and whatever they did. All the privacy they got in these past few days was reduced to quick, reassuring touches and a number of very quick kisses, which Kíli had enjoyed but he longed for some peace and quite with the elf by his side.
Staring into the distance pensively, he first didn't notice when the elf excused herself from Elladan's side and made her way towards him.
"Anything interesting?"
Her amused voice so close to his ear nearly made him jump and he turned to face her with that impossible smile of his.
"If I wanted to look at something interesting I would have looked at you", he shot back, his eyes twinkling in the candlelight. Even though it was quite dark he was sure the elf blushed a little upon hearing his words, which he considered his biggest achievement of the day. Under the table, Tauriel's hand found his leg and she squeezed it lightly before pulling away and reaching for her own glass.
"Are you sad to leave the elves?" Kíli suddenly asked, thinking of his own kin, who he had abandoned weeks ago.
Without a warning Tauriel emptied her glass, regardless of the wine's strength, and placed it back on the table a little too forceful for it to be an entirely controlled and sober movement. Kíli tried to fight back a smile. His calm and collected lovely elven lady was, apparently, a little tipsy. When her eyes found his there was a new sparkle in them, something mischievous and daring.
"I think, I am actually quite glad to leave", she answered, leaning a little closer then necessary. The grin won the fight against the serious face Kíli was trying to put on and he found himself all but starring at Tauriel.
"Oh?" was all the reply he could muster with her eyes boring into his. Discreetly checking that nobody was watching them, she leaned a little closer and, her lips nearly brushing his ear, murmured, "We should check if everything is ready for our journey."
Kíli raised an eyebrow at her, and Tauriel was, if she was perfectly honest with herself, a little surprised at her own boldness, while Kíli suddenly looked immensely smug. But who could blame him, really? While Tauriel always was a vision, she looked even more beautiful with slightly pink cheeks, a secretive smile and the candlelight on her soft features. The dwarf was very pleased when the elf returned his mischievous grin when he nodded, barely visible.
"After you, my lady" he answered, only half joking.
Once Tauriel was gone form the festivities, Kíli waited till he was sure the elves were occupied with themselves and neither Bilbo nor Gandalf was paying any attention to what the dwarf was doing. In fact, he hadn't seen Bilbo for a while now and suspected that the hobbit was wandering around Rivendell one last time before having to leave it early the next morning. Avoiding causing much noise when he got up, he carefully slipped away from the gathering, yet before he caught up with Tauriel, a very familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
"And where are you wandering off to, Master dwarf?"
"Gandalf!"
So the wizard had noticed. Kíli's surprise was a too big for any annoyance to form on his mind and he gave the wizard a, hopefully, charming smile.
"I… er… remembered I forgot to pack something", he answered lamely. Of course the wizard did also notice that he hesitated but apart from one raised eyebrow, his face betrayed no suspicions.
"Ah well… off you go, then!" Kíli could have sworn that Gandalf knew he was blatantly lying. "And make sure to pack properly", the older man added, leaving the dwarf and heading back to the feast.
Kíli shook his head. He'd never understand the wizard's meddling but as long as he was left in peace he could live with that; at least for now. Wasting no more of their precious time he quickly sneaked further into the gardens of Rivendell, looking for a tell tale sign of red hair.
He finally found her sitting on a bench near a pond. It was quite a lovely place, he mused, but he couldn't care less, as Tauriel was the far more beautiful sight.
"You look lovely", he breathed, stepping into her view. A most un-elvish giggle left her lips when she saw the awed look on his face. She beckoned him closer and, attempting a graceful movement, he stepped into the space between her legs. He was rather grateful that she was sitting on the bench because despite not minding their difference in height, it was nice being a little taller than her every once in a while.
In a quick movement, Tauriel drew him closer to her, nearly making him stumble into her slender frame.
"Whoops", she murmured, one of her hands coming to rest above his heart. He was sure she'd notice his heart beating much faster than normal. She usually had that effect on him whenever they ignored proper behaviour and did as they pleased and Tauriel liked to place her hand there. Kíli suspected that she started doing it in order to reassure herself that his heart was still beating but at some point she couldn't use this excuse anymore and just did it whenever the opportunity presented itself.
"How much wine did you have to drink?" Kíli teased and Tauriel's lips formed a decidedly too innocent smile.
"What do you think, melanin?" she asked, while Kíli's hands slowly crept from her arms towards her neck.
"A little too much, maybe?" he said, one of his thumbs caressing her jaw.
The way her teeth caught her lower lip when his eyes flickered down to them was mesmerising and Kíli could practically hear his breath catching in his throat.
Tauriel wasn't quire sure what possessed her to act that way but she enjoyed teasing the dwarf; maybe even a little too much. But it was undeniably … arousing to see him looking at her that way, his heart thundering away under her palm, pupils blown wide and his breath coming a little faster than normal. Well, and his hands on her neck, caressing her, felt good. A little rough they were but warm and welcoming and at home. Not too long ago she would have laughed at a notion like this but it seemed less and less ridiculous the more time she spent with the dwarf. They had done a lot of talking in these past two weeks in Rivendell, as there wasn't much else they could have done and, the few secret kisses they had exchanged hadn't done much good to her need to be close to him. Rather the contrary had happened, the more intimacy they shared the more she craved.
Her fingers curled into the fabric covering his chest and with a strong, swift movement, she pulled him towards her, eyes still locked with his. After what felt like an eternity to both of them their lips met and, knowing their absence would be noted sooner rather than later, they did not hesitate to deepen the kiss quickly, Tauriel gently nibbling at Kíli's lower lip before slipping her tongue into his mouth. A content hum fell from his throat and the elf smiled into the kiss, while she was quite busy kissing him, running her hands over his chest and attacking his mouth again and again with undying vigour.
Meanwhile, Kíli was trying to catch up with what was happening, completely failing as the elf's hands were providing a very good distraction. Regaining some kind of command over his body, he moved his hands into her hair. Mahal, he loved her hair. He would gladly spend the rest of his days stroking and braiding her hair. When he accidentally brushed her ear, the elf let out a sensual moan, a light shiver running through her entire body and Kíli wondered if he would be allowed to explore her body further. He wanted to find all the places that drew such exquisite sounds from her and, forgetting about reason and customs and maybe even about what might be considered appropriate, he let one of his hands wander back to her shoulders, intending to touch the pale skin of her collarbones, tracing a light line of freckles downwards...
Before his hand could move further, a very surprised squeak interrupted the lovers, making Kíli stumble back in alarm and Tauriel's hands flying into her hair, trying to shake it into a less messy position. An incredibly embarrassed hobbit turned burglar stood a few feet away from them, mouth hanging wide open, pipe forgotten in his hand. Awkward silence settled between them and Tauriel had a feeling that Kíli was not the only one whose cheeks were slowly flushing. She saw the dwarf opening his mouth but it was absolutely beyond her what he could have to say.
"Er…" was, in fact, all Kíli was able to produce but it was enough to snap at least Bilbo out of his stupor. He closed his mouth, eyes darting from Kíli to Tauriel and back, his lips forming a voiceless reply.
"I didn't see you?" the hobbit said with an unsteady voice, receiving two very vigorous nods before turning on the spot and vanishing into the night.
Tauriel and Kíli turned back to each other, mouths slightly agape.
"This cannot happen again" they said at the same time, and, after a moment of silence, they started to laugh.
"We need to be more careful", Kíli concluded, seriousness returning to his features. Tauriel shot him a cheeky grin and raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you said you were reckless?" she questioned, and drew him in for one last quick kiss.
Moments later, they were heading back to the feast, both pointedly avoiding Bilbo's eyes when he, too, came back to the celebration.
