Disclaimer: The Hobbit does not belong to me. It belongs to Professor Tolkien, Peter Jackson, and his company.

At First Sight: Alternate Ending

Fili eyed his brother with a smirk. "Someone is jealous of Tauriel," he chuckled.

Kili's eyes darted up to meet those of the pretty elf maiden. He gave Tauriel a smile he saved only for her, which she returned easily.

Dis made a strangled noise from her place behind the bed. Kili either did not notice or chose not to.

Fili sighed. He had a feeling the next few days would be full of adjustments for all of them.

Chapter 3

Saura only opened her eyes when Tauriel entered the room with some broth for Kili to eat for his supper; Kili, who had dozed off himself, woke when the child shifted against him. The dwarfling scrubbed her eyes sleepily and yawned before she scowled at Tauriel for disturbing their slumber. Dis and Fili helped the youngest heir of Durin sit up against the pillows. Kili moaned as he jostled his leg. Saura reached out and squeezed his large hand with her tiny one.

Kili rested his head back against the pillow and looked at the child gratefully through eyes glazed with fever. She curled up against him as Tauriel seated herself on Kili's other side with the broth. The elf frowned as she felt the heat radiating off of the dwarf prince.

"After you eat, you need a cool bath and some of Oin's tea," Tauriel spoke softly as she handed Kili the bowl of broth.

Saura glared at the elf maiden, but did not speak. Instead, she watched as Kili spooned the broth into his mouth with trembling hands.

"Where is Uncle?" Kili asked quietly as he eyes trailed around the room taking note of his mother and brother seated in chairs beside his bed.

"He is making sure everyone is settled in their new quarters," Fili explained. "He and Balin have been busy all afternoon."

Kili nodded as he hesitantly raised another spoonful of broth to his mouth. He did not eat much before he handed the bowl back to Tauriel. "I cannot eat anymore," he sighed. "I feel sick to my stomach."

"Try, Kili," Dis pleaded. "You have lost too much weight."

"It is the infection," Tauriel explained. "It has stolen his appetite."

"He should force himself to eat," Dis snapped at the elf as her worry for her son brought her nerves to the breaking point.

Tauriel shook her head. "It only makes everything come back up. He needs to keep down what little nourishment he can get."

"Do not tell me how to care for my son!" Dis shrieked as she stood and glowered at Tauriel.

Tauriel stood as well with Kili's bowl in her hands. Her already pale skin was a shade lighter and her hands clenched the bowl until her knuckles turned white. Tauriel knew that Dis was a princess of Erebor, and that she could easily influence Thorin to make her leave. That was the last thing Tauriel wanted; the thought of leaving Kili terrified her, especially when he was this ill.

"Perhaps you should leave now, elf," Dis spat. "I am perfectly capable of caring for my son; your services are no longer needed here."

Saura grinned and nodded before glancing at Kili. His face wore a look of horror and his dark eyes bore sorrow. Saura's grin faded and she reached for Kili's hand once again.

"No, Mum," Kili pleaded weakly. "Tauriel is to stay in Erebor." He glanced over at the red-head to see her staring at him sadly.

Fili stepped forward and lifted Saura off of the bed. She protested, but he stopped her whines with a firm look. "Tauriel, would you take Saura with you to the kitchens? I am sure she is hungry."

Tauriel pressed her lips together in a thin line, but nodded. "Of course," she said softly. Her eyes lingered on Kili for a moment. He met her gaze and gave her a gentle smile which she returned before offering her hand to Saura. "Come, little one. Let us see if we can find something tasty to fill your belly."

Saura did not want to place her hand in Tauriel's grasp, but she saw Kili look at her hopefully. Swallowing her protest, she allowed the elf maiden to take her hand and lead her out into the hallway. She could not bear to disappoint the dwarf who had become her big brother and best friend.

Fili waited until Tauriel and Saura were gone before facing his mother. "Tauriel has saved Kili's life more than once, Mum, and she has sacrificed much to remain here to see that he heals."

Dis scoffed. "I do not know what her motive is, but I cannot believe that an elf would willingly live in a dwarven city and care for one of its inhabitants even if he is a prince. She is perhaps trying to learn the secrets of our people. The she-elf needs to be sent away from the mountain and the sooner the better. I will speak to Thorin and see what can be done." Dis' eyes flashed with an indignant glare and she propped her hands against her hips.

"I have already spoken to Thorin on this matter, and he has conversed with Tauriel. She has Thorin's permission to live here in Erebor." Fili spoke calmly as Dis began to pace back and forth next to Kili's bed. The heir to Thorin's throne did not want to contradict his mother, but he would speak up for his brother's sake. Kili was too ill to argue Tauriel's case with their mother.

"Why would my brother give an elf permission to live in Erebor? He hates the elves even more than I do," she argued. "And, why would an elf even desire to live in Erebor in the first place?" Dis flung her arms wide in exasperation as she spoke.

Fili sighed, but Kili spoke before the eldest dwarf prince could open his mouth.

"Mum, I love Tauriel." The words seemed heavy in the air between the three dwarves.

Dis stared at her son in disbelief. "I cannot believe you are saying those words, Kili," she breathed. "Does the she-elf return those sentiments?"

"I do not know," Kili sighed. "I have not had the courage to declare my feelings."

Fili spoke up for his brother. "Mum, Tauriel gave up her home in Mirkwood to stay here and nurse Kili back to health. There is no question in my mind that she has feelings for him."

Dis' eyes flashed angrily. "She can still leave," she announced. "In time, Kili, you will forget her and find a nice young dwarrowdam right here in Erebor to pledge yourself to, someone who is worthy of your standing."

"No," Kili stated flatly. His cheeks were flushed bright red with fever and his stomach churned dreadfully, but he had to find a way to convince his mother that Tauriel should stay.

Again, Fili took up for his brother. "Mum, you do not understand. The elven prince of Mirkwood himself gave Tauriel an ultimatum that had been sent by his father, King Thranduill. If Tauriel chose to stay in Erebor and help Kili until he healed, then she was told never to return to the forest. She has been exiled much as we were once exiled. She has sacrificed her home for my brother, so Uncle Thorin gave her sanctuary here among us. Tauriel no longer has any home save for Erebor." Fili moved to his brother's side and placed a steady hand on Kili's slim shoulder. "Tauriel chose my brother over her home and her kin. There is no doubt in my mind as to her feelings for Kili. She has kept him alive when no one else could. I consider her a friend."

Dis looked at both of her boys steadily as she mused over Fili's words. It was quite a while before she spoke. Like Thorin, Dis did not cater to admitting she was wrong in any way. "It sounds as if I owe this Tauriel many thanks for saving my son's life. I do believe it will be Saura who has the most trouble accepting the she-elf." Then she sat down in her chair at Kili's bedside and picked up the rope she had been braiding and resumed her work.

Fili grinned at his younger brother and watched as Kili returned his smile weakly. He placed his hand on the youngest heir of Durin's forehead and winced. "Mum, I think Kili needs to be bathed in cool water."

Dis immediately stood. "I will take care of that while you get Oin to brew him some of his tea."

Kili wanted to tell them not to fuss over him, but he was too weak and tired to protest. It had been a long day.

Down in the large, sprawling kitchen, Tauriel sat a bowl of thick soup and a large chunk of bread in front of Saura and joined the child at the round table tucked into the corner of the kitchen. The child immediately snatched up the spoon and ate hungrily. Tauriel smiled. Saura was just as Kili had described – spirited, loyal, and charming. He loved her fiercely, and it was obvious that the child was just as besotted with him.

"I am so happy to finally meet you," Tauriel smiled when Saura realized the elf had been staring at her. "Kili has told me all about you."

Saura chewed on her bread, but did not comment. She stared determinedly into her soup bowl instead of looking at the elf.

Tauriel bit back a sigh and continued to attempt to befriend the child. "He said that you came to live with his family after the loss of your mother." When there was no response from Saura, Tauriel spoke once more. "I, too, lost my family at a young age. I was allowed to live with the Mirkwood Elves and when I was old enough, began to serve King Thranduill."

Saura remained silent, but Tauriel could tell that she was listening. "In time, I worked my way through the ranks and became captain of the guard for the king."

"Then why are you here?" Saura asked bluntly as she dropped her spoon into her now empty bowl. "Me and Mummy Dis can care for Kili now, and you can go back to help King Thrand-ill." She stumbled over the king's name with a frown.

Tauriel smiled sadly. "I am no longer welcome among the elves in Mirkwood. Erebor is my home now, at least until Kili recovers." She did not know if she would be welcome to stay once the youngest heir of Durin had healed.

"Saura," she said softly, "Kili will always love you. You are a sister to him. That will not change because of my presence here."

Saura carried her dishes to the sink with a pout on her face and then turned to Tauriel. "I am ready to return to my Kili now," she said firmly, ignoring the she-elf's words.

Tauriel bit back a sigh. She knew better than to think she could win this hurting little dwarfling over in one day. "Certainly," she replied. "Come, his room is this way."

Saura walked beside Tauriel, her face twisted into a worried frown. What if Kili liked Tauriel better than he liked her? It was a most distressing thought, and all Saura wanted to do was curl up into a ball at Kili's side and cry.

To Be Continued…