Chapter 21 everyone!

As usual; a big 'thank you' to all that have read, followed ans added the story as a favourite!

Yeah, I know that their reunion wasn't exactly a happy one and I know that you all await the declaration of love, but I beg of you; be patient. They're elves; they've got an eternity to figure things out and don't rush into things. But I promise that the declaration will come in time. We still have some chapters left to go.

Thanks to all of you that have reviewed and shared your opinions!

I do not own any characters or places; J.R.R Tolkien or Peter Jackson and Co do.

Enjoy!

Chapter 21: Tauriel

The mountain was enormous as they came closer. She couldn't exactly say that she saw the beauty of it, but the dwarves looked at it with reverent and stunned looks.

"Bless my beard", she heard Óin mutter and he stopped to lean on his walking stick.

"That's not a sight you get to see every day", said Bofur merrily, but quietly.

"Home", said Kíli in a strange voice, almost as if he was trying the word out.

She let them have their moment and everything was quiet and peaceful. The wind carried the sound from the camp, but it was a mere buzzing sound, nothing too unpleasant. They sky was a bright blue and it was easy to forget dragons a day like this, but not as easy to forget the thought of an army of goblins and orcs being on their way. She shuddered, hoping to pass it off as nothing more than the chilly air if anyone should be asking. But no one did. The three dwarves were too engrossed in the sight of the mountain.

"Gentlemen", she said softly and broke them out of their trance. "We should keep going. Your king awaits and I need to be back at the camp before nightfall."

She didn't felt for going back to the camp, not really. The king was furious with her and she guessed that it only was because of the upcoming battle that she had been able to keep her position as Captain. He didn't speak with her, because she had refused to apologize for her actions. She didn't like to argue with him, but she couldn't apologize for something that she deemed as right. Then there was Legolas, who she had barely seen since he had entered the tent to tell her to gather a group of scouts. He had seemed different somehow and it did pain her that they hadn't had time to talk. She suspected that the king tried to keep them apart and that was the worst punishment she could've received.

"Right you are, lass", said Bofur and rubbed his hands together. "We're just a bit overwhelmed."

"I haven't seen Erebor since the dragon came", Óin explained loudly. "It's a sight most dear to me. I never thought that this day would come."

"Neither of us did", Kíli said, but there was a stroke of darkness in his voice and he gave the mountain an apprehensive glance.

She and Bofur watched him with worried eyes, while Óin was blissfully unaware of the young dwarf's bitter expression. Kíli grimaced and she didn't think it was because of his leg. It had healed nicely, but he still walked with a slight limp, though she knew it would go away with time.

"Cheer up, lad", Bofur encouraged him and patted his back. "If anyone could make your uncle see sense, it'll be you."

"He threatened to throw Bilbo down from the mountain", said Kíli slowly as if he still couldn't believe it. "He banished him from Erebor and called him a traitor after all he had done to help us. Giving the Arkenstone to Bard probably saved our lives."

She didn't know what to say without it coming off as hollow words or insults to the dwarfish race. Thorin Oakenshield had succumbed to the gold sickness; everyone knew that after the failed and verbally violent negotiations about peace and the treasure of Erebor. Thranduil had almost looked satisfied at the sight of the dwarf king with a mad, golden light in his eyes. She knew that he had thought it would come to this. He saw the dwarves as weak and greedy. Bard had just been angry and Fíli had only looked at his uncle with a stoic expression and eyes full of disappointment. That wasn't a scene she wanted to relive again.

Bofur looked at loss for words and offered a comforting smile before walking up to Óin who had taken the lead. The old dwarf was talking about a passage from within the front gate that he hoped was available, because he didn't feel for climbing a rope ladder to join their company. 'Not for all the gold in Erebor', he said loudly.

"I won't be able to get uncle to listen to anything", Kíli mumbled unhappily. "It's always Fíli that has been the diplomatic one." He glanced in the direction of the camp and then at her. "I don't like leaving him alone surrounded by Men and elves."

"He won't be alone for long", she reminded him gently. "Your king has sent words to the dwarves from the Iron Hills. They will keep your brother company."

"Still", Kíli said. "I don't like it."

"You have my word that I'll look after him", she promised him solemnly. "No harm will come to him from either Men or elves."

Kíli smiled briefly at her and for that fleeting moment he looked once again like the dwarf he had been in the dungeon; the one who hadn't seemed to have a trouble in the world even though he was locked in a cell.

"That does ease my worries."

They had arrived to the front gate and it was broken and battered, yet there was a sight she had never seen before. Such proportions and such craftwork. Óin and Bofur had disappeared through all the mess, before Bofur had come out and shouted that they had found that passage Óin had been talking about and that it looked to be safe to use.

"Well, My Lady", said Bofur and took off his hat with a flourish and she smiled at him. "It's been a pleasure, even though there was orcs, poisons and dragons involved."

"Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva, master Bofur", she said and bowed her head.

"I'll take that as a compliment", the merry dwarf said and put his hat back on.

Óin was next and he also said that it had been a pleasure, the 'even though you are en elf' left unsaid, but still there. She smiled all the same and replied that their company hadn't been too bad (for dwarves). The healer laughed gruffly.

Kíli was the last one and his dark eyes showed that he was feeling troubled even though he had a smile on his lips.

"A kiss for good luck?" he asked her and grinned cheekily.

She raised her eyebrows in shock and blinked, before throwing her head back and laughed.

"I take that as a no?"

She grinned at him and impulsively placed a swift kiss at the top of his head. Now it was his turn to look shocked and she thought she noticed his cheeks turn a bit pink.

"Good luck", she said to him as a goodbye.

He nodded absently and followed the other two dwarves through the wreckage of the front gate. She followed them with her eyes and watched as Óin opened a battered door that had been almost next to where the second gate had been before.

One by one, the dwarves disappeared into a dark tunnel that she didn't know where it ended. Kíli was the last to go and he turned to look at her one last time, face tired and worried. He looked sad.

Then he was taken by the darkness and the door shut with a deafening and foreboding 'thud'.

Lissenen ar' maska'lalaith tenna' lye omentuva - Sweet water and light laughter till next we meet