Chapter 29: Dangerous Liaison
Three months earlier...
Kili stepped waited patiently by the front of the tavern, disguised as a dwarrowdam and wearing a green dress and hood. He smoked his pipe, as was his signal, and shrank from the lewd looks and whistles the townsmen gave him as they sauntered by. Kili kept his hands under his cloak, clutching his daggers, when a tall townsman seized him from behind.
Suddenly a rough, tall woman bustled by in a wheezy voice and shooed the molester away.
"Come along with me," said the woman, "You'll be safe with me, lass..."
Kili opened his mouth to protest but then he caught sight of the "woman's" face. It was Tauriel, dressed as a common woman of laketown.
"You had me fooled!" Kili gasped,
"Shh!" Tauriel grabbed him by his shoulders and they marched out of town and into the woods.
"You didn't come alone," Tauriel said accusingly as last when they were alone,
"I had to sneak out. I could only go out as a dwarrowdam and no dwarrowdam leaves without a male!"
"Hmph, you dwarves are one kind of misogynist."
"Not really, that's how things work for us. Its difficult enough being a dwarf, being a female is even harder. We don't complain..."
"Shh..." Tauriel motioned, "You'll miss the music."
"Let me undress first," Kili said, stripping of his dress and hood, and folding them carefully - he would have to thank Ale later for the loan, though she did not know what for. It would have been nearly impossible to snitch them from his mother.
"And I," laughed Tauriel, her voice ringing like bells,
"What fun it is to be together, life is so serious and dull in the mountain, it feels good to do and do something reckless."
"We are merrymaking folk, we woodland elves,"
"As are dwarves," reminded Kili, "We we are not burdened by the weight of the cares of stone."
"Let me take a look at your leg," Tauriel said, bending down.
"You worry too much."
"Let me see."
Tauriel bent done and shone her torch over it.
"On the mend, Kili, but you must be careful. If you are in need of help, send for me and I will come."
"Do I need athelas?"
"Oh, lots of it, my dear," whispered Tauriel in his ear, "Lots of athelas,"
"I think my leg's hurting, " began Kili, "Feels like I'm going to break out in a fever any moment now."
"Then let's not waste any moment."
Tauriel knew the wound was long healed, and only scars remained. But it had become like a ritual to them, to come out into the woods, listen to the music of the forest, watch the stars, and heal Kili's old wounds with athelas as if kingsfoil could drain out any lingering distance between them.
Kili leaned back against the tree and smiled. He would never forget this moment, and utterly savoured Tauriel's every touch, every syllable of her chant, the glow of her eyes and frame when she whispered the elvish words. His spirit soared. And then it was over.
"And now you must do something for me, master dwarf," Tauriel said, "Braid my hair."
"If you will braid mine... you do what this means for dwarves, does it not?"
"If we can have nothing else we will have this," insisted Tauriel, "That we are each others at least for a few short hours, betrothed as we otherwise could not be."
"Yes," said Kili eagerly as she sat on the rock and he combed his fingers through her long, flawless red hair, longing to bury his face in it, "At least we have this."
"What good can come of it, Kili?" Tauriel sighed,
"Oh, I don't know. What was the penalty for "unlawful relations" with elves again? Death by the king's sword?"
"Your uncle would not do that."
"I'm afraid it will, but it will not be he who killed me first. I would have killed him, broken his heart. I fear he has not long for this earth."
"He is young yet..."
"But old in mind... I cannot, Tauriel. I cannot."
"Kili," said Tauriel, "Life passes slowly for elves. What is the difference between one day and another? I have all eternity to be an elf, but only a few short years to spend with you."
"You will not regret it?"
"Never."
Kili reached down and took her hand, kissing it,
"I am sorry,"
"We will not be sorry tonight. We have months to be sorry, apart. Now tell me a story while I braid your hair..."
"First you have to get these ridiculous female beads out of mine first," snorted Kili, "And while you do, I will tell you of the squirrels Thorin cooked us for dinner when we were lads. But after that, you must tell me of Beren and Luthien."
"But time will not stand still for us, mellon nin," Tauriel reminded,
Kili's smile faded. At best he and Tauriel could only be friends, but inwardly their souls craved for each others' company, and, deprived, languished.
The night passed to soon, and finally after one last story, Tauriel kissed Kili and on the cheek and was gone.
