Kíli POV
"Now is not the time Dwalin! I need to concentrate!" I could faintly hear a feminine voice speak angrily. My mind was foggy and I didn't even have the strength to move my fingers. Something pricked at the wound near my shoulder but I couldn't lift my hand to scratch it. My mind begged to go back to sleep but I urged myself to wake. I heard several voices but I could not make out any words. The only thing I could tell was that the voices were angry.
"Ughh, stop yelling," I was surprised to hear my own voice groan. The pricking at my shoulder came to a stop, as did the shouts. My senses began to return as my body began to wake.
"Kíli?" I heard a voice, Fíli's voice? Yes, Fíli as he called for me.
"Argh, who's been dancing on my head?" I groaned as I brought a hand up to rub my eyes. I heard Fíli chuckle.
"Just a few rocks, stones, and perhaps an elf maiden."
"Fíli…" Tauriel threatened. I was surprised to hear such a grumpy tone come from her. "It is about time you woke up."
"I missed you too," I smirked as I furiously blinked my eyes to clear my vision. I could see the complimentary red and green from her hair and outfit but they were only a blur. "What happened?"
"You hit your head," she replied and began poking at the wound again. It took me a moment to realize that she was in the process of stitching my arrow wound.
"No, the orcs. Did we…" My eyes snapped open as wide as possible and my muscle clenched as I made to sit up. "Bilbo?!"
"No, Kíli don't move!" Tauriel's hands pressed furiously against my chest but I disobeyed her orders and sat up straight.
"I'm right here Kíli," the hobbit's voice caught my attention. I sighed in relief when I found minimal damage on him. He had a few scratches and cuts but other than that he was unscathed.
Soft feminine hands pushed at my chest once more and it was then I realized that my armor and shirt had been removed. I swallowed hard and immediately laid back down, hoping the other's did not notice the trembles that spread throughout my body as her hands pushed against my bare chest. I distracted myself by scanning the area and I realized that we were back in the mountain and that they must have carried me to my old room. Tauriel returned to her stitching, showing no sign that tending to her half naked man had any effect on her. I was only slightly disappointed.
"How's my head look?" I asked.
"Bloody," she responded dryly.
"So why don't you clean it?" I smirked.
"Because your shoulder is much worst," she replied dangerously.
"Or maybe you just wanted to see me with my shirt off?" I smiled wide but it was cut short as she poked the needle in a little too deep. "Ow! I'm kidding, I'm kidding!"
"Oh enough of this," Dwalin grunted. "What is wrong with your head lad?"
"What's gotten you so sour Mr. Grumpy Trousers?" I relaxed my head back on my pillow.
"What's got me grumpy? That depends, are you or are you not attempting to court an elf?" He asked. The answer was nothing what I had expected and my eyes shot open to Tauriel.
"You told them?" I asked, surprised. She responded by glaring at me.
"No, you told them and left me to deal with the consequences," she sounded frustrated. I nearly laughed at her expression but given as annoyed as she appeared I contained the chuckles. At least I now understood the cause of her uneasiness. I sighed and reluctantly turned my head to look at all the questioning stares within the room. Even more surprising was the unbelievably happy glances we received from everyone, well except for Dwalin of course who looked ready to rip my head off.
"Aye Dwalin, I am courting her," I smiled as the words passed my lips. It felt incredible to finally have them out in the air. I turned my attention back to my elf and smiled at her. The words seemed to have a calming effect over her as well because she smiled back tenderly.
"You foolish boy… Do you not see the disgrace in your actions!" I rolled my eyes at the elder dwarf.
"The only thing that would be disgraceful would be to deny our feelings. We have done that for far too long," I glared at him as he took a step closer to the bed.
"She is an elf!" He explained poorly. "A filthy woodland sprite!"
I don't remember ordering my arms to strike out, but in a moment of pure rage I snapped up from the bed quickly to grasp his collar. Other's screamed for me to sit back and let him go but I would not allow him to get away with his bitterness any longer. "She is a brave, kind, and magnificent person who has saved my life countless times. It's about time you start realizing that and learn to move on from the past!"
I had a whole list of arguments to throw at him, but then my shoulder tore open. I pushed him away and fell back in pain. Tauriel was quick to cover my wound with a rag. "You've undone all my work."
I tried to steady my breathing as I looked at her with a light smile. "No one speaks ill of my lady."
"Come on Dwalin, let's get you out of here before you two kill each other." Bofur dragged the older dwarf away from the room. Dwalin no longer looked angry, instead he looked completely terrified at being handled in such a way. Tauriel moved to begin re-stitching the wound but before she could I took her hand in mine and brought it to my lips. I kissed her knuckles, both as a thanks for her medicine and also as a vow; a vow that we would enter this newly announced courtship together.
"Men lananubukhs menu," I told her, resulting in several gasps from within the room. Fíli on the other hand groaned playfully.
"Alright I am setting one rule for you two, no sappy love stuff when you are around me or you get a pounding." He stood up from his old bed to walk to me. Tauriel looked confused and eager to understand my words. "Especially around Dwalin, we don't want to see his head explode."
"I don't know, I think that might be rather entertaining. Do you think a gnome would pop out?" I chuckled.
"Be polite Kíli," the elf whispered. "We both knew this would not be easy."
"She is right young Kíli," Gandalf stepped closely. "You have my full support in the matter, but you must proceed with caution. The rift between your peoples run deep, far deeper than even you know. You must be patient with Dwalin, for he was raised when the tensions were most high."
"Yes, yes I know," I tried to hush him. I already knew the information and did not fancy a lecture while my head and shoulder throbbed. A silence fell over the room and it made me uncomfortable so I turned my attention back to Tauriel. "So, is the first time you've ever seen a man without a shirt?"
I smirked playfully.
"No," she said simply. My eyes grew wide.
"What?!" My surprised squeal seemed to amuse her. "Was it blondy?!"
"How do you think I practiced medicine master dwarf?" She smiled. "And no, I have never seen Legolas in such a way."
"Practice on a dog! Or a doll!" The rest of the room broke into laughter at my suddenly high pitched voice. I sighed, "At least I'm the only dwarf you've ever seen."
"Wrong again," she tried to suppress a smile as she continued to work on my shoulder. I looked at her questioningly. "You forget your brother was badly injured."
"You mean you saw… Fíli!" I yelled at him.
"Oh for Heaven's sake, it was only my belly. Relax brother, I don't intend to steal away your elf." He chuckled. "Plus she did also see us all bathing…"
"Do not remind me," Tauriel groaned and we all shared a laugh.
"I would be very interested to know how a dwarf was able to capture an elf's attention?" Gandalf asked.
"I asked her to search my…"
"It took quite some time for that master wizard," she quickly interrupted me. I noticed that both Bilbo and Ori looked alight with joy as they stared at us.
"I remember you spoke with each other in the dungeons," Bilbo said.
"Is that the moment you stole the keys from under my nose?" Tauriel raised her eyebrows. The hobbit grew a shade redder and stuttered.
"I um…"
"Relax master hobbit, I am glad you did." She smiled. "But yes, we spoke in the dungeons."
Everyone seemed to wait for her to continue the story but she did not. I would have answered for her but I sensed she was not ready to share our story.
"How are we here?" I asked. "Where are the orcs?"
"You killed most of them by collapsing that tunnel. That was quick thinking," Gandalf admired. "After we brought you in here we sent search parties throughout the cave. There seems to be no more but we are keeping a careful watch."
"Good," I sighed tiredly.
"Alright, everyone to bed. I'll take first watch," Fíli ordered them from the room. "Come on now, he is well tended for."
He winked at us before following the others out. I suddenly became nervous to be alone with her. I began to lose my confidence and became self conscious of my sudden predicament. She was indeed an elf and although it was inappropriate to linger on the thoughts, I couldn't help but wonder what she thought of my shirtless body. Yet, I was too fearful to ask.
"What did your words mean?" She asked.
"You mean, Men lananubukhs menu?" She nodded and I smiled. "I'm not sure you're ready for that translation just yet."
She narrowed her eyes at me but decided to drop the subject.
"I think we need to make a deal," she said as she clipped the final stitch. I met her eyes curiously. "I cannot take anymore of this fear of you losing your life. No more injuries, for either of us."
"Deal," I chuckled. She grabbed a bowl of water and moved to tend to the gash in my head. I winced as she pressed the rag to the injury. Holding the cloth in one hand, she brought the other to my cheek and gently pressed against the side of my face.
"Turn towards me," she ordered. I did what she asked so that she had a better view of the wound. She pricked around the flesh for several minutes. "You will have a mark for quite some time."
"Are you sure you can handle looking at it?" I smirked once more.
"I've seen much worst on you," she sighed. Her eyes moved to my chest. She brought a hand down and ran a finger along the center, sending my heart into a frenzy. My skin shivered at the new sensations that came from her soft hands. I furiously ordered the skin to be still, but that was a much harder task than I realized. "You have so many scars."
"That… ugh," I cleared my throat nervously as I realized why her fingers lingered on that portion of my skin. "Hunting accident."
I swallowed hard. I could not get a handle on my breathing, not while her hand still explored the bare skin. As she moved to another scar, her fingers pulled at the hair accidently. I curiously wondered about her opinion on the hair that grew there, but my throat became so dry that words did not seem possible.
"I don't think you realize what you are doing to me," I finally managed to whisper. She met my eyes questioningly so I brought my hand of to cover hers. I gently brought it to lie over my heart which was pounding furiously. "You are going to burst my heart love."
Her eyes held so much passion as she felt the beating beneath my skin and her gaze nearly drove me mad. I slowly moved my hand up her arm and across her shoulder until I reached the back of her neck. Never once did she break the gaze. I cupped her neck to bring her lips down to me so that I could capture them within my own in a tender yet heated kiss. She was nervous, that I could easily tell, but she moved her hands to hold the sides of my neck. My tired hand moved to relax on her back and I tilted my head to deepen the kiss. She shivered lightly against me and brought her hands back to my chest. I breathed heavily against her lips at the sudden change and brought her even closer until she was practically laying on me.
Her soft hands sent trembles throughout my veins causing a soft moan to escape from my throat. She pulled back worriedly to check my wound and I felt embarrassed for allowing my throat to speak without permission.
"I am sorry…"
"Don't be," I quickly assured her. "You did not hurt me."
She removed her hands from my chest as if only now realizing that they had been wandering there. She moved to stand up, "I shouldn't have…"
"No, please don't go," I grabbed her arm. "I'm sorry. I pushed you."
She shook her head. "My actions are my own. Do not blame yourself."
"I didn't exactly help," I sighed, desperately trying to still my heart so I could speak clearly. "Could you hand me my shirt?"
She did as I asked and retrieved the linen cloth. I went to sit up and she came to my side to help, though this time she was careful where she placed her hands. After I was covered she helped me lie back into the bed. "You should rest."
"Stay with me?" I pleaded. She looked as if she was going to refuse but finally she nodded and sat down in a chair beside the bed. I reached for her hand and she brought hers to rest within mine as I closed my eyes to allow my body some rest. It took quite some time for my heart to calm down but after it stopped pounding sleep came quickly. Before I lost myself into the unconscious, I asked her a question.
"Do you really want to know what it means?"
"What?" She asked.
"Men lananubukhs menu," I answered.
After a couple moments of silence she finally whispered, "yes."
Even with my brain being dreary from the near slumber I felt nervous to respond. "I love you."
Her hand tightened around my fingers. Warmth spread from my heart after I spoke the words. I managed to open my eyes to catch her expression, but she looked terrified. I briefly wondered if I had said the phrase to soon, but I refused to retract the words. I could have died on this day, without ever telling her so. That, I could not allow to happen.
"Tauriel, I love you." I whispered once more. A silent tear escaped her eye and rolled down her cheek. When the silence lingered for too long, I begged her in a whisper, "say something. I must hear your voice."
I was thankful to see a smile spread on her face. She came towards me and gently kissed my lips. After she parted from me she whispered something in her language. "What does it mean?"
My voice was incredibly quiet as sleep tugged at my brain. She breathed through her smile and held both sides of my face. "It means that you have my love master dwarf, forever."
Just a reminder, if you don't see your name, yell at me because I missed it
AnimalCharmer – Wish granted! Thanks :D
JP – lol if only my lil fingers could type that fast
briongloid fiodoir – Thanks!
Woodelfjedi – lol welcome back! Thanks!
Ani-maniac494 – Oh it turned out alright… maybe xD We shall see! Thanks!
Haku's Lover18 – Thanks! Well they promised no more injuries so hopefully they stay true to their word xD
mfaerie32 – ahaha indeed!
pikachudragon – mm indeed. Darn his good looks! XD
Celebrisilweth – lmao I know right? Best boyfriend ever!
Hobbitpony1 – Indeed! He'll calm down… eventually. Thanks for reviewing!