Authors Note: SOOOO it's been a rough week, well one can argue it's been a rough year. Go 2020. Had to get a COVID test yesterday due to exposure at work. It was fantastic (That was sarcastic by the way if you didn't get the vibe) So at this moment, I am gifting all you, well, whoever is still amused by this story, another chapter while I procrastinate my homework and wait for my COVID test results. Enjoy :)
Chapter Sixteen
A flurry of activity took over the next few weeks. Balin met with Fili, Kili, and Tauriel and together they came up with a few names who could or would join their small party to march to Erabor. Those names included the three brothers Bofur, Bifur, Bombur, and of course, Gimli's father, Gloin. Oin too would be invited to join as his medical skills would no doubt be necessary. Between him and Tauriel, they should be secure in handling most traumas which may transpire on their trek.
Apart from planning, it seemed life at Ered Luin went on. Fili working on the guard and pitched in at the forge which Tauriel ran as well as she could. She did not know how to forge steel or metals, but most work needed were Dwarrows bringing by tools for sharpening, which Tauriel knew well. Kili did come by and helped work the forge when he wasn't needed at Gillhor's and Fili was on duty. The husband and wife pair working quietly side by side as Kili managed the hot furnace. He was in no way as skilled as his uncle or Fili, but he was plenty capable. Plus, he enjoyed working with Tauriel, so he never minded the extra duty.
When more than a month had gone by with no word from Thorin, the tension began slowly building in the small family.
"We should have heard from him by now. Do you think something has happened?" Fili was pacing the large room, a look of clear agitation in his usually calm demeaner.
"Be patient lad, he did have to go meet with the with 7 Lords. Thorin will be sending word I expect by the end of the week." Balin sat going over lists of supplies they would need, matching them to the ones currently stacking up in his office where two sons of Durin sat. Well one sat, the other stood pacing. Tauriel too, had joined them in the large office, lounging on the floor next to Kili's feet. The pair were focused solely on their task, making as many arrows as they could carry.
Fili paid no mind to Balin's reassurances and continued to pace holes in the stone floor. However, all in the room stopped what they were doing when a knock sounded on the large wood door.
Still studying his list, Balin shouted a quick "Enter", not bothering to look up to see who came through the door.
"Aeodhen, how is the new arrival?"
"My lady Tauriel. He is doing quite well, thank yeh. Shaada and I both send our thanks fer the basket and Hillanna wanted me to tell yeh she, has a gift for yeh." Shaada had given birth just two days ago, to Hillanna's frustration she now has another little brother. Though she wanted a sister, the little dwarfling doted on her new brother none the less. Tauriel made regular visits and often brought baskets of supplies so Shaada wouldn't have to leave on days Aeodhen worked long shifts at the gates. "Of course. Tell Hillanna and Shaada I will be by on my way home for a quick visit.
Aeodhen smiled then swiftly turned his attention to the older dwarf in the room, who was still shifting through boxes, barrels, and crates. "Balin, I have a message for yeh'. Came by raven no' moments ago. Straigh' from the king."
It was as if the air was sucked out of the room. Balin surged forward to take the message from Aeodhen's outstretched hand. Fili stood stone still, foot still raised for the step he was just about to take. Kili's eyes trained on Balin as his hand dropped the staff he was just fletching and made its way to Tauriel's tense shoulder.
Balin read the message, then looked up at the others. "It appears, it is time. Lad's, go gather the group. Aeodhen. Thank you." With a quick nod, Aeodhen turned and exited the room. Fili dove for the message, reading it over quickly as Kili and Tauriel gathered their completed arrows, stuffing them in the bag they prepared earlier. Fili passed the parchment to the pair who looked over the simple message.
"Shire. . Some coordinates, and sennight. Signed T. I would question it being uncle, but it is clearly in his hand." Kili indicated to the message, both Fili and Balin agreeing in his assessment.
"I will be leaving tonight." All eyes turned to Balin. "Tonight?!" He turned to the three in the room, who all spoke at the same time. "Yes. I will make haste. I will deliver a copy of the map to the shire directly to you before I leave."
"We can be ready to leave as early as the morning. Tauriel and I will head down to Bofur's and Oin's. Bifur is usually with Bofur, and they can give the news to Bombur."
Balin sat at his desk, scribbling on several pieces of parchment. He looked up at the three still standing. "Well, off with you. There is much to do." It was as much as a dismissal as they needed and the three grabbed the supplies they had in the office and sped their way through the winding halls of Ered Luin. Fili splitting off to make his way to the quarters as Tauriel and Kili raced down the steps to the market.
When they reached Bofur's shop, the hatted dwarf nearly fell from his perch on the counter when the pair burst in, Kili talking a mile a minute. "Now lad. Ye' know I can no understand ye when ye talk like tha'. Take a breath laddie. Who's on fire eh?"
"Thorin has called for us." Tauriel, taking pity on her husbands inability to contain himself, responded. At this Bofur did fall from the counter. "Truly?" The pair before him just nodded in affirmation. "Oh, makers hammer. Alrigh' I'll tell the others. When are ye planning on leavin'?"
"Balin is leaving tonight. We plan on going first thing in the morning." Kili finally got out. It all still seemed surreal to him. "I will speak to Bombur and Bifur. We'll be ready by tomorrow laddie."
Tauriel and Kili left, walking across the path to deliver the same message to Oin, who was a bit less taken aback but agreed to be ready. He and Tauriel spending several minutes going over last-minute herbs and medical tools they thought would be needed on hand.
Hand in hand, the couple made their way through the market. "Tauri! Kili! What are you two doing down here at this time?" The sound of their names had them stopping in their tracks as Tauriel closed her eyes in resignation. Oh. Leotti. She had to tell Leotti.
"I was thinking maybe we can have a ride tomorrow. The weather is getting warmer so it would be nice to get out." Neither of the couple spoke as they both just shifted. Kili squeezing Tauriel's hand. She didn't want to hurt her closest friend. "We can't Leotti."
"No worries Tauri. We can go next week." Not picking up on the atmosphere, Leotti continued making plans until Tauriel couldn't take it and stopped her friends bantering with a "Leotti we are leaving." She looked at her friend who stopped mid sentence. "Tomorrow."
"Leaving? Tomorrow? Has Thorin finally called you then?" She didn't need to hear the answer though, as the look the couple was giving was all the answer she needed. Leotti was one of the very few outside their family and the company who knew about their journey. Mostly because she happened in on the official meeting a few weeks before.
"Listen Leotti. I was wondering if I can ask you a personal favor." Kili dropped Tauriel's hand and stepped closer to the young dam. "Can you keep an eye on mam?" He quietly asked.
"Oh, of course."
"Thank you Leotti. This has already been hard on her, and with us leaving, I. I would be happy knowing she had companionship." Kili pulled Leotti into his arms. She returned the embrace.
"When you come back, riding. Got it?" She made the two promise. Tauriel laughed and pulled her closest and most prized friend into her own embrace.
"This isn't goodbye yet. Tell me what time you are leaving, and I will be there." At first Kili was going to waive her off, but Tauriel stopped him "Just before first light in the morning." Leotti made a mental note and bid the pair goodnight.
The final stop was to see Shaada and the new baby as Tauriel had promised. Hillanna jumped into her arms and sped through a take by take of her day. Both Tauriel and Kili listened raptly before Shaada came in with a sleeping infant and Riffi toddling at her feet, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "He refuses to go down until he sees you." She supplied.
Tauriel set Hillanna down and knelt to the ground to pick Riffi up who immediately laid his head on her shoulder, put his thumb in his mouth, then fell asleep. Kili smiled at the scene before extending his large arms to receive the infant Shaada was holding. She did not even hesitate as she passed the tiny dwarfling to the waiting prince.
One thing Tauriel found endearing, well, one of many things she amended, was how much Kili loved children. She eyed him as he cooed at the bundle in his arms and her mind pulled up visions of what it would be like for him to hold their own child. That would have to be a bit off though, she thought sadly. She was not going to bring a child into this world, to only lose its parents. Unlike her, it would grow, loved by a family, but nothing could replace a parent's love and guidance. Kili, though, she knew would make a wonderful father.
As if sensing he was not the mother or family member he was used to, the tiny bundle began to fuss, then wail. Shaada moved to step forward to relieve Kili, but he just sat in the chair closest to him and softly began to hum. Tauriel watched in wonder as the cries turned to soft sounds of contentment and the infant fell fast asleep, lulled by the gentle rumble of Kili's voice. Tauriel was transfixed by the moment, nearly causing her eyes to fill with tears. Shaada smiled gently, content in allowing Kili to hold the little one for a time.
She did, however, step forward to take Riffi from Tauriel, as Hillanna was tugging gently on her vest coat, holding a small box in her hands. Shaada quietly left the room to put Riffi to sleep. Arms now free, Tauriel sat beside Kili, and turned her attention to the little girl. Pulling her up into her lap as Hillanna handed her the small gift. "I made this for you Tauri. It was my first try."
She signaled to the gift, waiting as Tauriel tugged the twine keeping the box closed before pullling out what appeared to be a small bracelet made of many different colored beads.
"Oh Hillanna, it is beautiful. Mae govannen, dilthen hiril. Many, many thanks little lady." Tauriel easily slipped the beaded gift onto her own thin wrist where it hung perfectly. "I shall wear it always." Hillanna beamed with pride.
Chewing on her lip, a habit she had had her entire life when contemplating something, Tauriel made a decision.
"Hillanna, we are going away for a little bit." Tauriel then supplied. She did not want the little dwarfling to think they are abandoning her. Hillanna turned her eyes up to Tauriel. "Where are you going?"
"On a trip far across middle earth. This is really good work Hillanna. Very well done. You have the makings of a fine jeweler one day." Kili had shifted the infant in his arms and leaned forward to inspect Tauriel's gift while the little dwarfling's cheeks grew red with the praise. She had always been a little shy around Kili. Tauriel suspects she has a small crush on the dark-haired prince. She did not blame her in the least, Tauriel thought, as she ran her eyes over the handsome features of her husband.
"Do you plan in being gone long?" They turned to Shaada who had just stepped back into the room. The two on the couch gave an affirming nod of their heads. Nobody really had any idea how long they will be gone, nor if they were coming back.
"Will I ever see you again?" Tauriel's heart broke at the quiet voice coming from her lap. Looking down at the small child, Tauriel thought about what to say, but nothing seemed right.
"When we first meet someone, something precious happens. It's as if a brilliant light shines and we are given the chance to create memories and form connections, friendships. Each of those moments are captured and shoot up into the night sky where it waits for us when we need it most. On those sad days, when we cannot be with those we love and care about, look to the night sky. The stars that shine will shower you with the memories of each of those moments and fill your heart with the light and warmth of the love you are missing most. It will be as if those who are gone are right beside you, and inside your heart." She pulled the little girl into a tight embrace, allowing the tears to fall from her own eyes.
"I don't want you to go, Tauri. What if you forget about me?" She cried. "How could I ever forget about you Hillanna? You have such a big heart, and I have this," she lifted her wrist to Hillanna's eye level, "to always remember you by. It will be on me the entire trip. Worry not, for when I look into the stars, I will be thinking of you."
Shaada pulled the little girl from Tauriel after saying a final goodbye and went to put her down. "You alright?" Turning to her husband, Tauriel inclined her head once. This was more difficult than she had thought it would be. When Shaada returned, she took the infant from Kili.
"Kili, I want you to be assured Dis will be taken care of. I am sure you two have made arrangements, but I wanted you to know someone will be by her side from the moment you leave." Kili was touched by the kindness of the dam and he pulled himself from the seat, helping Tauriel to stand beside him. They turned to leave, but Kili quickly spun back around.
"Shaada, what did you name him? I forgot to ask."
Looking down at the bundle, the dam smiled. "Tauren."
"Kili, have you seen the sketching journals I picked up last week? I want to bring them."
"Already packed Amralime. I thought you might have wanted them." Squatting down by the packs near the door, Tauriel sifted through a pile of things before her, mentally figuring the need, worth, and usability of each item prior to adding it to her bag. Some made it in, others she set aside to leave behind.
Tauriel and Kili decided to stop at their small chamber room before going across the hall to spend some time with Dis and make travel plans with Fili. Balin should be by soon with their map. For the most part, they were ready to go. The pair had prepacked weeks ago so they would be ready at a moments notice, but had a few personal belongings to add in.
Although, at the moment Kili was making it difficult to focus as he kept staring at her and giving her 'that' smile whenever she caught his eye. Valor help her focus. Her husband can be difficult if not impossible not to want to pounce on. She shoved the thought to the back of her mind. There was still just too much to do.
With a click, the final clasp of her bag was closed and Tauriel stood to see the object of her affections laying on the bed, looking to all like he hadn't a care in the world. He gave her a wide grin, the one which reached his eyes causing them to sparkle and she was done for. His laughter rang from the room when she let out a low grow then jumped on the bed, ready to attack.
Needless to say, they arrived a bit later to dinner than they intended. Shutting the door behind them, they followed their noses to the kitchen where Balin and Fili sat at the table and Dis shuffled from counter to counter, finishing dinner. Kili gave her a kiss on the cheek as he passed by, releasing Tauriel's hand, who opted to join Dis in her preparations.
"You already to go dear?" Dis was cutting the warm bread she had sitting on the counter, but it was another smell which caught Tauriel's attention. "Is that butter cake?" There was little the elf loved more than Dis's butter cake. Kili came in a close second though, which she told him once and he pouted for the entire day. The cake was moist, sweet, and when it was warm, Tauriel could eat an entire platter. To which she was forever grateful for her elvish metabolism.
Knowing how much she loved it, Dis had made the sweet cake for Tauriel on her birthday last summer, and the elf enjoyed a few pieces before needing to meet with Balin for a lesson. She was looking forward to coming home and finishing her precious yellow cake only to find Fili eating the last slice. Her mouth dropped open and a roar of anger erupted from the usually levelheaded she-elf. Without even a warning, she pulled out her dagger and threw it, watching with delight as Fili jumped, then stared at the knife embedded in the table before making eye contact with the seething being at the door.
"Problem, Tauri?" Oh, he was going that route.
"You ate my cake." Looking to his now empty plate, then back at the elf, Fili just shrugged but let out a yelp when Tauriel leapt over the table and tackled the startled prince to the ground, which is where Dis found them.
"Oi, you two, no ruffing it in the house. Is that a knife in my table!?" Dis's voice rang with danger, as the two pulled away and looked at Dis, then at the knife. Fili did not say a word, instead pointed a finger at Tauriel, clearly, he intended to rat her out.
"He ate my cake Dis." Tauriel looked down at her hands, allowing her face to set itself in a look of sorrow.
"The cake I made for your birthday?" Dis looked to her eldest son, Fili, who was looking wide eyed from the floor. One look at Tauriel with her doe eyes and sad face and he knew he had lost. "You, son, will be making Tauriel a new cake. "
"But mam!"
"Then you will fix my table."
"But Tauriel was the one who threw the knife!"
"Well she wouldn't have if you had not eaten her birthday cake!" Leaving no further room for argument, Dis went into the kitchen to pull out the recipe and ingredients, then sat back, instructing Fili on how to make the moist, delectable, treat. A little over an hour later had Tauriel sitting at the table with an entire cake, which she ate, every last crumb of it.
Dis hummed, but whacked the elf's hand when it went reaching for the warm cake. Who would know the 600 year old being would quickly turn into a 10 year old when presented a desert? Tauriel eyed the cake with a look of longing before turning back to help Dis plate the rest of dinner.
"We have everything ready and gathered. We thought we would spend the evening here with you." Grabbing the large platter, Tauriel was stopped by the look of sadness that crossed the Dwarrodam's face. She sat the plate back down and pulled Dis into a hug. Both were startled to feel another set of arms wrap tightly around them, but Dis just laughed when Kilis squeezed his two favorite females. A loud "Oi!" from the door was the only warning they got before Fili barreled into group and joined the family embrace. Dis never felt more love for her children as she held and was held in this precious moment. If only she could capture it to keep her going for the long, lonely, months ahead.
One by one, they pulled away, Kili and Fili leaving a kiss on each of their mother's cheeks, and Tauriel squeezing her hand as she grabbed the platter and began placing the food on the table.
Balin joined them for dinner, saying a warm meal was exactly what he needed on his way out. His pack already at the door. Throughout dinner, he instructed the group of three to be on their guard. "I have told Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur to leave a few hours after you three. It would not do to be a large group, drawing attention to us. Best we keep things small to start, at least until we gather." He passed the map to Fili to pack away.
The rest of the meal was filled with laughter, the small family resigned to make the evening as light as possible for Dis's sake. When all had their fill, the three stood to gather dishes and clean up while Dis bid Balin farewell, making sure to pack some fresh leftovers to give him for the road then joining her family in the kitchen to help clean up.
They spent nearly the entire evening together, before Dis shoed them to bed, telling them it would be their last night with the comforts of home. Retiring herself to her room to catch a few hours of sleep before she planned on waking and preparing breakfast for the road.
Stepping in their own chambers, Tauriel gave her pack one last check over, making sure to place with them both bows, Kili's sword, and their numerous blades. She turned, rolling her eyes at her dwarf of a husband, who was lying on his back on the bed with his arm flung over his eyes to block out the light. "Useless Dwarrow." She mumbled, before an idea came to mind. One by one, she removed all her layers, then, without a glance at the dwarf on the bed, made her way to the bathing room. "I am going to shower." Kili grunted something unintelligible from the bed, but otherwise did not move. She smirked, pausing with her hand on the doorframe calling over her shoulder a quick, "care to join me?" before disappearing into the bathroom.
She laughed as she heard the sounds of heavy boots hitting the floor and yelled a hysterical "Kili!" as the speeding dwarf slammed into her, then used his foot to shut the door.
"Tauriel" batting the sound away, Tauriel turned her face into the pillow. "Tauriel, Amralime. It is time to get up." She hummed moving from the pillow, slowly coming too as she felt her husband's lips press to her forehead, then her cheeks, before finally leaving a gentle kiss on her lips. She opened her eyes to peer into his warm, dark, brown ones. "Good morning, meleth nin." She smiled giving him one last peck on the lips before climbing out of bed to get ready.
"Fili is helping mam put together breakfast, he said to come over as soon as we are ready." Kili sat on the bed. He had handed Tauriel her traveling clothes and then set to walk the room to make sure they had everything, eventually stopping to just take the room in. Tauriel clasped her belt around her narrow waist, securing one of her daggers, then turned to see her husband just standing still. Too still. She walked up behind him and slid her arms around his neck, resting her head against his on his shoulder. Kili reached his arms up to clasp hers tightly.
"It feels, I don't know, it feels as if this is the dream, and the minute I step through the gate, the vision will disappear and it will all be gone from me." Tauriel tightened her arms around Kili, understanding exactly how he is feeling. She turned her head to nuzzle his cheek. "I know one thing for sure, I am very real." She whispered into his ear as she left a lingering kiss on his temple. He hummed, closing his eyes for a moment, then released his grip on her and stepped away. "Are you ready Amralime?"
"I suppose as ready as I can be." Kili grabbed their packs and Tauriel grabbed their weapons, gave her surroundings one last longing look, before turning out the lamp, and shutting the door on the small room, following her husband across the hall.
The family chambers was a bustle of activity as Fili ran from his room to the sitting room adding his own last minute touches. Apparently, according to Dis, he unsurprisingly overslept. Leotti had arrived just before Tauriel and Kili and was enjoying herself as she mocked the golden prince, to which he was promptly getting agitated but chose to ignore her bait to focus on his task.
"Where's mam?" Kili had been looking for her over the last several minutes, she seemed to have disappeared. Glancing around herself, Tauriel looked towards the hall to her closed door. She grabbed Kili by the hand and together, they walked up to Dis's room, opening the door after a gentle knock.
They found Dis sitting on the bed, looking at an object in her hands. Completely entering the room and softly shutting the door, the pair went to Dis. Kili knelt in front of her as Tauriel sat beside her on the bed. "Mam?"
The gentleness in Kili's voice had Dis lifting her eyes to her baby boy. He may be taller than most dwarves, married, and 77 years old, but he will always be her precious, baby boy. Her little Kili. She lifted her hand to place it on his cheek before leaning her forehead against his. Her other hand securing itself around Tauriel's at her side. Leaning back from Kili, she repeated the same action on the elf at her side. The newest member of the family, the daughter she never had. Finally pulling back, she picked the object back up which had been placed in her lap.
Tauriel leaned over to see what she held and let out a startled gasp. "I know this stone." She said. Images coming to her mind once again of a cold mountain, this time with the addition of a lifeless hand and a small stone. "Return to me." She whispered.
"Yes, it is a runestone. I wanted to give it to you both, as a promise." Grabbing both their hands, she placed the stone in their joined palms before covering it with her own.
"I know I can't ask you to promise me neither of you will be reckless…"
"Mam, I am not reckless." The argument was met with two sets of incredulous eyes. "Oh you aren't are you? So, going out and jumping in a river to retrieve the bow you dropped, in the dead of winter, on a hunting trip wasn't reckless? Choosing to climb the high rooves to impress that dam two years ago wasn't reckless? Let's talk about joining a quest in which you have already died once before, shall we?" Tauriel snickered then stopped. Wait. What dam? "And you, elf, are just as bad. Leaving your home to find a settlement, on the mere hope you would be accepted. If Thorin hadn't been crossing near the hall you would already be dead. Not to mention leaping into a smoke filled, fire blazing room." She leveled her eyes at the two before her.
"You two are honestly made for each other. And – I am going to miss you both more than you know." She looked between the couple. "You remind me so much of Vili and I, both stubborn, passionate, and so very much in love. You will need to work together, to face challenges using each other's strengths, and be each-others rock in times of sorrow, for there will be many in the months ahead." She lifted her hands from theirs and placed one on each of their cheeks.
"All I ask is that you carry this as a reminder that I am here, waiting for you. Do not run into danger thinking you will follow the other into death. Please remember you have someone who wants you to come home. Both of you. I love you both, my precious gems. Please, return to me. I do not want to see that stone again, if you both are not here to deliver it."
The pair pulled Dis into their arms. "Of course mam. We will be back."
"The both of us." Tauriel finished.
"Good. Because I want granddwarflings. Lots of them. And you two will make beautiful babies." Kili and Tauriel laughed tightening their hold on her once more before they all rose and left the room. "Best join the other two in the house, before they destroy each other." Dis laughed as they made their way to the living room where, unsurprising to them, Leotti and Fili were locked in a battle of words which only stopped when Dis pulled her eldest son into a tight embrace mid insult.
The four dwarves and an elf quietly made their way to the stables, where Maryn, Galaddal, and Fili's horse, Kit, were waiting for them. Dis passed Tauriel an entire packed up butter cake, to which Tauriel gave a very un-elflike screech before launching herself at Dis, wrapping her long arms around the laughing Dwarrowdam. She then packed the cake in her provisions bag and moved to hug Leotti goodbye.
"You better come back, you understand? I just got you broken in as my closest friend and it would be a pain to have to go through that all again with someone else." Tauriel chuckled, her eyes growing damp as she held her dearest friend. "I will miss you mellon nin, my closest friend. I will return, you have my word." Deciding the more she said it, the more she, herself, could believe it. Leotti gave her a watery smile and stepped back allowing Dis to come forward.
Dis wrapped her arms around each of her boys, then Tauriel. Telling them each she loved them, and stood back as they all mounted and turned towards the gate. However, a commotion in the hall stopped them, and each twisted around on their horses to figure out what was going on.
"KILI! You useless Dwarrow! I just found out it was you! Don't you dare make a move!"
"Right, time to go. Love you, mam." Tauriel stared bewildered as her husband kicked Maryn into a canter and all but sped through the gate. Fili too looked apprehensive, hollered out a speedy "Remember, you love us, we love you, and we will be safe." Then mumbled "Safer out there then in here." Before joining his brother.
"Stop them! They are the ones who let that ram in my room last winter, I know it!" Kyghie was shouting, ordering the guards to stop the fleeing princes. The guards who were snickering as a highly amused Aeodhen yelled down "Think ya outta go too lass, appears yer bein' lef' behind. Safe travels." He said this as he ordered the guards to take the still shrieking Kyghie inside.
Giving one final waive to Dis and Leotti, who stood hand in hand at the gate, both shaking their heads, Tauriel pushed Galaddal forward, knowing his long legs would easily catch up with the other two smaller horses.
She smiled to herself as the wind blew her hair, and the sound of the laughing princes echoed ahead. Time to begin an adventure.
Authors Note: So the adventure begins. Stay tuned.