A/N: hehe back with the quick updates. A flare for the dramatic. Check me out with the short authors notes, I'm rwteictring myself.
Thanks to my supporters and everyone who reads this story!
MissCallaLilly: lool we'll see the effects of the green eyes monster...
Disclaimer: I do not own Tolkiens works only my OC and storyline!
The next two days passed more slowly than I would've liked it too. Kili and I had barely looked at each other let alone talked. Fili attempted to be the mediator between us but even only he could do so much.
I spent the days training with Fili and Legolas and talking to Sarina. It was pleasant to have another female to talk to but the fight was weighing on my mind. I know I had overreacted but the self doubt grew in my mind like a plague.
Dwalin arrived with the jewels early morning and presented them to King Thranduil. Once he was satisfied that we had held up our end of the bargain, we loaded up a cart with as much Athelas as we could carry and set up a regular trade agreement.
"It's been a pleasure Lady Luna," Thranduil said respectfully at the gate.
"The pleasure is mine Your Majesty, I am glad we could come to an honourable agreement." I bowed as he smiled slightly.
"Prince Fili and Kili, if you could give your uncle my thanks for honouring my wishes." He turned to the two Durin princes who were wearing their royal colours.
They bowed to King Thranduil as we said our goodbyes.
"I'm going to miss the library." Ori whispered next to me.
"Me too," I agreed.
"We have given you some Lembas bread for the road." Sarina said from besides Legolas as they escorted us to the gates.
"Oh thank you!" Bilbo exclaimed excitedly then looked abashed as the other elves smiled at him. We walked in relative silence until the edge of their borders where the forest was becoming less green and was looking more sick.
"Mellon, I'm going to miss you," Sarina bent down to my level.
"Me too, even though it's only been a few days I feel as if I've known you a lifetime." I smiled at her.
"You are welcome any time to Erebor." Fili added.
"Both of you." He extended the invitation to Legolas.
"Thank you for your kindness Prince Fili," Sarina bowed her head.
"Besides I'm sure I'll be seeing Luna soon," she grinned.
"For your wedding of course!" She added.
I gave a sideways glance to Kili who nodded stiffly which did not go unnoticed by the rest of the company. I knew the way they were tiptoeing around us, hoping we would resolve our disagreement.
"Luna things will work themselves out. You'll see." Sarina whispered in my ear as she gave me a hug.
"You sure?"
"I swear on Varda." Sarina winked.
"Keep in touch." I smiled.
"Mellon nin, it's been fun to see you and train with you again." Legolas clapped a hand on my back.
"Its been refreshing." I admitted.
"Everything will work out." He said referring to the situation.
"I know." I rolled my eyes.
"Meanwhile you, you need to not hold back from your feelings. And notice what's in front of you." I said quietly gesturing to Sarina.
Legolas followed my line of sight as his ears tinged pink making me laugh.
We rode our ponies in relative silence with Bilbo making quiet conversation with me every now and then trying to break the relative silence. We reached the edge of Mirkwood by the end of the day where darkness had fell we sat at the bank of the river.
I dismounted my money helping Bilbo with his.
"We're not stopping here for the night?" I asked.
"I'd rather cross the river then sleep at the edge of this cursed forest." Fili answered.
"We don't have a boat big enough so how could we possibly cross the river," Kili wondered as he stopped beside me.
"With a bit of help." Fili smirked and looked out towards the river.
There was a faint light coming from where the mist was settling as a large barge emerged and a familiar man standing at the helm. He moored the Barge along the rocks and stepped off greeting us.
"Heard you need to cross the river?" Bard stepped off with a smile walking towards us.
"Thanks fer this laddie," Dwalin clapped him on the back and stepped onto the barge. The guards loaded the ponies and supplies onto the barge as Bard walked over to us.
"My Princes," Bard bowed respectfully to Kili and Fili who were standing beside us.
"King Bard," Fili jested as Bard chuckled.
"Oh please. I am just Bard to you."
"Its a pleasure to see you," Kili said politely giving Bard a small smile. I looked at Kili in surprise, he was actually being courteous.
"You too Prince Kili,"
"Luna," Bard gave me a wide smile as I came towards him giving him a quick hug.
"Bard it's lovely to see you!" I smiled brightly.
"You too my dear, soon to be Princess I hear?" He smiled looking between me and Kili.
Kili nodded stiffly giving a tight lipped smile towards the Master of Laketown.
"You hear rightly sir," Kili said taking a step towards me so he was right beside me. I rolled my eyes. So he was still jealous of Bard. After the numerous times I told him I had no feelings.
Kili placed an arm around my shoulders which I shrugged off shooting him a glare. I walked past him onto the barge.
"Everything alright Luna?" Bard asked helping me onto the boat.
"Its fine Bard."
"If you say so," he chuckled.
We set off in the barge sitting around. Kili after having a quick word with Barge came and sat down in the only space available. Right next to me.
"How long is this going to go on for Lu?" Kili whispered softly.
"However long you want it to," I replied not looking at him.
"Lu," he said in a voice that made me want to break.
"Kili," I turned to him and saw the sadness in his dark eyes.
"The point is you didn't tell me. You didn't tell me about Tauriel. How you still felt. You didn't say what was wrong. We're betrothed. You're my best friend and I thought I was yours. You tell me your troubles, you're supposed to share them." I whispered.
"I knew you'd be upset about it. I didn't want to tell you because I knew how you'd feel." Kili defended.
"Whether I would've been upset or not, you should've told me. Instead left me wondering if you still loved me. You know how anxious I would've got Kee." I said a bit louder.
"An honest good relationship is based on trust and communication. And just loving each other isn't enough." I calmed down.
"But what about our wedding? It's in a few weeks Lu," Kili asked.
"Our wedding? Kili we can't rush into a marriage without establishing these things." I explained.
"What are you saying? Are you saying you don't want to get married?" Kili whispered incredulously.
"Im not saying that." I said simply.
I turned away from Kili and stood up walking towards the edge of the barge looking into the night. I looked up and saw stars littered across the blanket sky.
"A copper for your thoughts?" I looked beside me and saw the blonde Durin prince standing next to me.
"Hey Fee," I said.
"I don't wanna talk about it." I stopped him before he could say something.
"Thats not was I was going to even say," Fili defended as I raised an eyebrow at him.
"This whole thing has escalated." I stated simply as Fili listened.
"I know I shouldn't have been jealous of Tauriel. I know that. But Kili hid things from me, I thought he trusted me with his feelings."
"Do you tell Kili everything you're feeling?" Fili shot back.
"If it's about anything serious I do." I replied.
"Look it's about communication and trust Fili. Sure I know you guys pretty well but I'll never know everything about and I accept that." I told him.
"But what I want from Kili is honesty. And when I asked him if he still loved Tauriel he couldn't give me an answer. I must be a poor substitute." I sighed staring into the dark water.
"We're approaching Laketown!" Bard called out to us as the lights started appearing in the distance.
"You are not a poor substitute. You are your own dwarrowdam. Tauriel was Kili's past. But you're his future." Fili stated strongly.
"It seems like Kili has his own issues to work out first." I said.
"Get some sleep Lu."
The same night Bard kindly allowed us to stay in his house in Esgaroth and we said our goodbyes. The day after we crossed the lake once more and were now walking through the remains of Dale. There was a small marketplace being set up in the ruins but the winter and cold pushed the people away.
Snow settled across the mountains in a fresh blanket as the icy chill of winter arrived. Normally I would've been enjoying walking in the snow but I cleverly left my gloves at home so my hands were beginning to freeze holding the reins. But I was too stubborn to ask for help. We were following the river which was half frozen half thunderous back towards the mountain. One fall and you would've been swept away.
We stopped for lunch as I handed sandwiches out to everyone and ate in silence. I rubbed my hands together trying to create some heat keeping them in my tunic.
"Aye it feels like I'm at a funeral!" Dwalin exclaimed suddenly as we all looked up at him.
"Now I know something's up between youse, just sort it out! Youse to be married in a few weeks." Dwalin looked between me and Kili.
"Everythings fine Dwalin." Kili gave his old trainer a smile causing me to glare at him. So he was fine.
"Young love, yer impossible." Dwalin dusted the crumbs off and went to go check on the ponies.
After a short while we set off once more, my hands beginning to hurt from the freezing cold.
"Luna your hands are blue!" Bilbo commented as I quickly hid them.
"Shh! I'm fine." I whispered back.
"I don't have a spare set of gloves," Bilbo said helplessly.
"It's okay," I shrugged him off.
Suddenly the reins were taken from my hands and another pair of hands began rubbing mine before a glove was placed on each hand. I looked up seeing Kili's dark hair bent over my hands blowing on them and warming them up. He looked up and met my eyes with a quizzical look.
"I know we're mad at each other but that doesn't mean I don't care about you." He answered before handing me the reins and riding ahead.
Now I felt slightly guilty. I had overreacted about Tauriel, but Kili wasn't recognising the problem.
"KILI!"
I heard the fear in bloodcurdling shout as my eyes shot up to search for Kili. But all that remained was his pony without a rider. I urged my pony along quickly to where Fili and Dwalin were on the river bank trying to pull Kili who was desperately holding onto a rock fighting against the monstrous current.
"Kili!" I shouted my heart lurched.
"Hold on!"
"We need to find bark or something to pull him back," Dwalin shouted.
"Theres no bloody trees!" I argued.
"Im going to get him," I shrugged my outer tunic off feeling cold.
"Luna are you mad! You'll freeze to death." Fili pulled my arm not letting me go. I elbowed him harshly in the ribs as he inhaled sharply.
I started trudging through the water the icy water penetrating my skin feeling pain all over.
"LUNA ARE YOU MAD? GO BACK!" Kili shouted holding on for dear life as the water began filling his mouth. Kili began losing his grip on the rock.
"DON'T YOU DARE LET GO KILI DURIN!" I screamed at him as his eyes met mine in a weak smile.
I felt the current sweeping me back when suddenly I was steadied by a firm grip on my shoulder. I looked back and saw Fili steadying me with Dwalin by the river bank holding him. I made my way closer and closer to Kili where the river level was rising dangerously. Kili's voice was muffled by the water filling up his mouth.
"I found some rope!" One the guards handed the rope to Dwalin who threw it to me as I made a large loop. I slipped and fell pulling on the rope as Fili and Dwalin became unsteady.
"Im fine!" I shouted. I hissed in pain as my hands gripped hard on the rope. I finally reached Kili looping the rope around both of our waists and placed his arm over my shoulder.
Fili, Dwalin and the guards pulled us back to the river bank as Kili was shivering and turning pale. His eyes began rolling back.
"Kili! Kili!" My teeth chattered.
"Kili please!" I cried seeing my bloody hands from the rope burns.
"Luna stay calm! You have to heal him," Fili shouted. I calmed myself then set to work.
"Take this clothes off him and quickly get another thick tunic!" I ordered the guards who rushed to Kili's pony.
Fili and I set off testing the tunic off him until he was shirtless. I began doing chest compressions seeing is pale face.
"I need to get his blood circulating again. And he needs oxygen." I said mostly to myself.
I pinched his nose and opened his mouth blowing air into him three times seeing his chest rise then began chest compressions.
"Come on Kili please," I whispered tears forming in my eyes.
I blew air into him again doing more chest compressions.
"Kili," my voice wavered.
"Please,"
"I'm sorry," I cried.
Water came spewing out of his mouth as he coughed we sat him up as his eyes opened I hugged his body trying to warm him up.
"I-i accept y-your apology," Kili said shakily.
"Give me the tunic!" I wrapped it around his body and continued holding on to him not letting him go.
"Y-you can l-let go now L-lu," Kili said looking to his side where I was hugging his arm.
"N-never," I shivered as Fili placed a thick wollen blanket around my shoulders.
"That w-was stupid." Kili said admittedly as I sat in front of him.
"You're stupid," I mumbled against his chest as he gave a light chuckle.
"Glad to have you back brother." Fili gave his brother a tight hug.
"Thought we lost you there for a moment lad." Dwalin clasped a hand on his shoulder.
"Back all of youse, give them some privacy." Dwalin and Fili shifted all the guards back leaving me sitting on the riverbank in front of Kili.
I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. Pressing my lips tightly against his cold frozen ones. I let go pressing my forehead against Kili's.
"Wow maybe I should drown more often." Kili whispered his breath tingling my neck.
"Don't you dare," I scolded him.
"Does this mean we made up," Kili pulled back entwining his hands with mine looking into my eyes.
"What do you think Kee?" I gave him a wry smile as he returned it.
"I like it when you call me Kee," Kili grinned pulling me into him for another kiss before I pushed his chest gently.
"What?" Kili asked afronted.
"With all the guards watching?" I gestured to the guards who tried to look busy.
"Oh let them," Kili yanked me by my tunic and kissed me again. I couldn't help it and melted into him stroking his hair.
"Oi!" I slapped his gently on the cheek.
"Stop it." I scolded him but I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
"You're blushing. Oh Mahal you've actually gone red." Kili sniggered standing up.
"I will push you back into the river." I said seriously as he held his hand to help me up. I took it and stood up steadying myself on the wooden leg.
I put my hand on his forehead which was still cold and took in his complexion which was pale but some colour was returning to his cheeks.
"You're not strong enough to ride Kee. I'll ride you sit behind me." I said seriously.
"I'm your healer so you have to listen."
"Yes my lady," Kili smiled.
"Luna, I am truly sorry for not confiding in you. I do not know why I couldn't tell you, I was worried you would be upset." Kili said as he began walking back to the others.
"And about Tauriel, I couldn't answer you before because honestly I wasn't sure. But I know now, in the past I think I did love her but I know now I don't. Being in the Woodland Realm just reminded me of her that's all. You're the one I love and choose." Kili finished sincerely.
"You sure?" I raised an eyebrow before smiling.
"Oh you're jesting," Kili rolled his eyes.
"Kili, I know. I overreacted too and whislt I forgive you we need to work on our communication. We're a couple we need to trust each other with our worries and thoughts. Lack of communication is where problems start. Trust and honesty is what we need to build a strong relationship." I said softly as Kili nodded.
"How about at the end of each day we communicate what we did and anything that worried or troubled us?" Kili suggested.
"Wow that's actually a good solution." I said impressed mounting the pony.
"I did have a royal education." Kili joked getting on the pony behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist.
"Shush master dwarf and rest." I ordered as Kili shuffled closer resting his head against my back.
"So I see you've made up," Fili chuckled pointing to Kili who was behind me.
"He's not out of the woods yet." I joked.
"We've come up with a mature arrangement." I smiled.
"I came up with it." Kili corrected behind me.
"Sorry he did," I rolled my eyes as we passed the cursed dragonfire land. We came over the hill and saw the tall peak of Erebor in the distance with the woods in front of it.
"Did you say my brother and mature?" Fili pretended to clean his ears making me laugh.
"Shut it Fee." Kili shot back at him.
"Amralime please rest," I said softly.
"Okay love." Kili nestled into my back.
We arrived at Erebor
"Thorin," I smiled at the older man and bowed who patted my shoulder.
"I trust your journey was fruitful?" He enquired.
"Very," I gestured to the entire cart of Athelas the guards were hauling.
"Well done Luna, you will make a fine princess. Let me know if any of the lords try to doubt you again." Thorin said kindly.
"Thank you my king."
"Lass we missed you!" Bofur, Bifur and Bombur pulled me in for a bone-crushing hug.
"I missed you guys too," I wheezed.
"Well don't crush her!" They let me go and I saw Balin standing there with a wide smile.
"Master Balin," I grinned.
"Lass thank goodness you're back. And with the Athelas no less!" Oin exclaimed.
"All of the lords were impressed with how quickly you managed to assemble and agree on the trade deal. Even had Lord Conwy singing your praises." Balin added.
"I don't believe that." I laughed.
"Believe it Lass." Nori smiled.
"Lads hope you took good care of my niece-to-be?" Thorin directed the question to the princes.
"It was more like she took care of us." Kili smiled at me as Thorin raised his eyebrows.
"Oin take Kili and Luna to the infirmary," Fili told the older dwarf who immediately nodded.
"Is everything alright nephew?" Thorin asked concerned.
"Come uncle, we'll fill you in!"
A/N: thoughts?