Authors Note: YAAAYYYY negative COVID test AND another chapter. OH and thank you for all the wonderful reviews. They make me feel super special, you guys are amazing.
Chapter Seventeen
"Kili, you said it was just over the hill two hill's ago! Have you got us lost?" The group had been traveling for just over two days now, and Kili had insisted on taking over navigation. He sat on Maryn, studying the parchment in his hands closely. To Fili's utter horror, he turned the map, looking in the distance, then turned it another way.
"No brother. I know exactly where we are. It's just tricky to get the bearings since this map was obviously drawn incorrectly. We cannot blame Balin in his age." Neither of the other two in the group believed a word the dark-haired archer was saying, Tauriel opting to remain silent as her husband sat looking at the map which was now, upside down.
"Then perhaps it is over that hill." Gesturing to a small mound of dirt on the ground, Fili continued to harass Kili who by now lifted his eyes from the map to narrow them at the blonde dwarf. "Perhaps you would like to try."
"YES!"
Kili's eyes whipped to his wife, looking to all middle earth like he had been betrayed. Tauriel held her hand over her mouth, having yelled out the same time as Fili. "Have you two not been to Bree before? Isn't it where you went on caravans?" Both princes looked at the elf. "Yes, but we have never gone this way before. Kili, what were you even looking at?"
Having reluctantly passed the map to his brother, Kili sat quietly seething on his black horse. The shadows on his face growing more prominent with the setting sun behind him. He just gave a non-committal shrug and continued to, well for lack of better word, pout. Great, so they really were lost.
"Come, we should find camp for tonight." Ignoring her husbands hurt look, she turned Galaddal in the direction of some trees, hoping they will give them enough cover to rest. If her calculations are correct, and Kili has not turned them around too much, they should just be a day's ride outside Bree which would put them another three days to get to the Shire. She did not even look behind her to make sure the two brothers were following, if they were not, perhaps traveling alone she could get to the shire in time for the meeting. Of course, she would never abandon her husband or her brother, but listening to them bickering behind her made the option sound that much sweeter.
Jumping to the ground, Tauriel, Fili, and Kili silently made camp. With just a quick word, Kili announced he was going to hunt something for dinner, not even looking at the other two in his party. Both watched the retreating, hunched over form with a mix of frustration and sympathy. Tauriel moved to follow him, but Fili stopped her with a quick shake of the head. "Let him go Tauri. He needs the time to get it out." Looking from Fili to her obviously upset husband, she continued to busy herself with preparing a fire to keep them warm.
Kili was gone for well over two hours, and Tauriel had had it. She was ready to kill Fili for suggesting she not follow Kili, Fili for his part seemed completely non-plussed. "He is fine Tauri, I promise. He is plenty capable of taking care of himself." He had said at least once, every ten minutes, for the last two hours as he watched the elf pace before the fire.
"What if an orc party got him Fili, what if he is in danger, or trouble, or what if he's been…." She did not want to finish. Fili just watched her. "What, killed? Tauriel, are you still living?" She eyed the golden prince with frustration at his lack of worry. "He isn't dead Tauri, or you would be too. Tied lifeline, remember?"
Tauriel sat with a very un-elflike huff and continued to stare in the direction Kili had gone. He did not come back for another hour by which time Tauriel had worked herself into a frenzy on the inside, while on the outside she had just sat staring, completely still.
"See, he's fine."
Kili had just placed two large hares on the ground and looked at Fili and Tauriel, eyes filled with confusion. "Of course, I am alright. Why wouldn't I be?" Three hours of waiting and worrying was more than Tauriel could take at the moment. She shot Fili a glare, stood, and stormed to the other side of their camp. It wasn't a far distance, but anything to get away from those two frustrating dwarves was worth it. She climbed up onto a tall rock, which was more like a very large boulder, too large for either of those sons of Durin to be able to climb, and stared into the clear sky.
"I think she is mad at you little brother." Kili watched Tauriel climb the boulder with trepidation. "It appears so. Though it doesn't seem like you are in her good graces either." He plopped next to his brother and began cleaning and preparing the hares. He was glad he had the time to work off his own frustration, but he had not thought it would be at the expense of his wife's feelings. Letting out a sigh once the rabbits were over the fire, he stood to try and patch things up with nothing more than a sideways "good luck" from his older brother.
Kili stared at the tall boulder before him with a grumble, the thing stood at least two stories high. Most other beings would not have been able to easily make their way up such a tall rock, but he was married to an elf. A wood elf. Who spent her previous life climbing and jumping through high trees and scaling rocks such as these.
Well, he thought, no help for it. Kili was in no way a natural climber, but if it meant getting to his beloved wife, he would scale the tallest mountain if he had to.
Tauriel was startled from her internal exasperations when a rather loud dwarven curse made its way to her sensitive ears. It was much closer than it should be, and she started when a large hand crested over the top edge of her little sanctuary. She did not move to help the clearly struggling dwarf, only sat still and continued to watch as a hand turned to an arm, then the dark hair of her husband's head popped up as he finally pulled himself over the edge and sat trying to catch his breath.
"You know, they say dwarves are made from stone, you would think we would be better at climbing it." Brown eyes met green, and Kili was surprised at the cold look she was giving him. He tried for a bright smile but got no reaction from her. "You are upset. I suppose I am to blame for this?" She lifted a brow, an obvious sign of 'you think?'. Kili was tired, he had just spent the last three hours wondering around for food, he knew his brother was frustrated they had not reached Bree yet, but makers beard, it was not his fault. He was following the map. All he wanted was to sit down, eat something warm, and hold his elf. He was not in the mood to play the 'what did I do?' game so instead he just fell backwards onto the broad rock and huffed.
"Who was she?" Tauriel did not want to know, really she didn't, but it has been eating at her, so when the question came out, it honestly surprised her. The dwarf next to her, however, seemed confused. "Who was who?" Tauriel refused to look at him, instead staring forward. "You said you wished you were better at climbing, but Dis said you were happy to climb the settlement to impress a dam. Who was she?"
Kili snorted. Actually snorted, as if her question was ridiculous. Which, Tauriel thought, it was. She wasn't exactly being fair in asking. But Valor, something settled in her heart when Dis had brought that up when she was asking them not to be reckless before they left and it wouldn't go away. In the moments since, all the stinking remarks she had heard her first month in Ered Luin came flooding back. Things like,
"He would be better off with his own kind."
"She's just a phase, an infatuation, he will eventually outgrow her."
"She could never bring him the pleasure and happiness a Dwarrowdam could. Look at her. Narrow hips, no facial hair, those ridiculous ears, and does she even smile? How he even considers that attractive, I will never know."
Tauriel had let them all go, content in knowing Kili loved her and thought she was beautiful. Then, Dis goes and mentions a memory of Kili trying to impress another Dam just two years ago, a year before she came to Ered Luin. Not really that long, a blink compared to her people's time senses. Does that mean he was attracted to another? Did she turn him down?
Her mind was plagued with images of Kili holding someone else, a Dwarrowdam, to his chest, arms wrapped tightly around her, as he and her discussed their life firm in the knowledge no matter where they went, they would be accepted. Their children would be accepted.
When she married Kili, she didn't even second guess it. She loved him, loves him, and knew all would be well if they could work through it together. She does not doubt him, she knows he loves her. But this dagger of ice in her heart wonders if she was too hasty in coming to find Kili. Maybe she should have allowed him time to live. Maybe she had made the wrong decision. Oh, Valor. Kili could have had a Dwarrowdam. Could have had her children. Little dwarflings with Kili's dark eyes, his beautiful smile. No hint of her abominable elfish features found repulsive to the Dwarrow. Her betraying mind pulled up image after image of Kili holding a baby, kissing another dam, and laughing as his small children surrounded his feet.
"Breath, Amralime. Breath!" Tauriel had not noticed she had worked herself into a fit. Why couldn't she just breath. "Tauriel, you are scaring me, come on, in and out." Her world was spinning, and fast, but then Kili's face entered her blurred field of vision, and she could feel his hands on each side of her head as he held it tightly. "Tauriel, you need to breath. Please. Here, feel my heart, feel how my lungs fill with air. Follow me." She nodded as best she could, her hands now splayed on Kili's chest as she attempted to refocus all her efforts on calming the erratic heartbeat and burning lungs.
It felt like it took an eternity, but eventually her heart slowed and she was no longer gasping for breaths. "Forgive me, I do not know what came over me just now."
"That would work for maybe someone who does not know you, but do not think that will work on me Tauriel. What happened. Talk to me."
Tauriel struggled with what to say. How does she explain to Kili that she is what, jealous of someone who potentially does not exist?
"Is this about the question you asked me a moment ago?" Well, that was a good place to start. Tauriel pulled away from Kili, placing her hands in her lap where her eyes followed. She inclined her head, giving an affirmation to his question. Kili, however, just hummed, causing Tauriel's eyes to shoot up to his only to find the stupid dwarf was smiling crookedly at her. "Tauriel. Love of my existence. Keeper of my heart. Amralime. Are you jealous?"
She may have just admitted it to herself, but when he looked at her like that, there was no way she was going to tell him. Instead she folded her arms and glared. "Tauriel, there isn't anyone else, nor has there ever been anyone else." Tauriel looked unconvinced. "Where is this all coming from? Did someone say something to you, because I swear, there is nobody else. You are it, Tauriel."
"Dis said you climbed the settlement to impress a dam." It took a moment, and she had to repeat it because it didn't quite make it out the first time. But Kili finally gave her that 'oh, right' look and she was off "I know Kili, I know you love me. I see it in the way you look at me. But when Dis mentioned that it made me think, what if there was someone. What if you were able to connect with a dam. What if you two had…" She felt her throat tighten and her voice broke "had children. Children who would be accepted across the clans. A family you wouldn't have to defend your right to have or prove you love genuinely." Tauriel felt her eyes burn, but she refused to allow the tears to fall. She would be strong. He studied her quietly, but remained silent for a few moments. Tauriel looked away from him. Maybe, she was right. Maybe she should have allowed him to live without her. Live a life with his little dwarven family.
"Inside Thorin's study, there is an object on his desk which looks like a golden sphere, but just larger than the size of a marble. Uncle prizes it as it is one of the few things he was able to save from Erabor having had it with him on the day of the attack. Fili and I were warned from birth that we were not to touch it or risk Thorin's wrath. So naturally, I took it." Tauriel turned to look at her husband, trying to figure out what he was trying to tell her. She wondered if he was trying to distract her but remained quietly listening to his story.
"It was beautiful, and I wanted to show it to Gimli. I may have been a little careless, tossing it into the air, as I made my way through the courtyard. How was I supposed to know a raven had trained his eyes on the little gold sphere, and before I knew it, had swooped down and caught that cursed ball in its stupid beak and flew up high into the settlement. I knew I had to get that golden sphere back, I also knew I had to do it quietly." Listening intently, Tauriel watched Kili chuckling at the memory.
"I did what any Dwarrow would do knowing their life was on the line, went after that damned bird. I saw where it landed, so it wasn't too difficult. A well aimed stone had the feathered fiend dropping the sphere and flying off with a curse. Crisis mostly evaded. I just had to get Thorin's precious ball. So, I climbed up the buildings, story after story until I finally found it. Unfortunately, having procured the ball, I may have lost my footing and fell. Breaking my ankle and my wrist." He turned to Tauriel and paused for a moment before delivering the punchline "I couldn't tell mam I stole Thorin's ball, I enjoy living, so I told her I did it to impress a dam."
Tauriel's mouth dropped and she just looked at her ridiculous dwarf of a husband. "Tauriel, there was no dam." Tauriel could not stop the laugh that bubbled up from her chest. "You mean to tell me you lied to Dis so you wouldn't get into trouble?" She laughed out. Kili just shrugged, unrepentant. "Mam and Thorin would have killed me." He allowed her to laugh for a few more moments before resting on his knees before her. "Tauriel, there will never be another. Nobody is more suited for me than you, Amralime. Please do not doubt your place in my life." Tauriel bit her lip as she eyed the dwarf looking earnestly at her.
"What about our children Kili, would they, do you think they would be, be accepted?" Kili smiled. Their children. How he dreamed that day would come soon. He looked down at her flat stomach longingly. "I know for a fact they would be loved by our family, and by all at Ered Luin." He lifted his eyes to her emerald ones. "I am not afraid, Tauriel, nor should you be. Any children of ours will have more than enough to love them." The final fear evaporated from her mind and she allowed herself to be enfolded in Kili's strong embrace, where she was content to stay. At least until her husband's stomach gave an angry growl.
"I am neglecting my wifely duties, perhaps I should make sure my husband is properly fed." Kili laughed and pulled her lips to his, kissing her deeply then leaned back, only to press his forehead to hers. "Perhaps, you can also make it your duty to help your husband down from this giant rock." Tauriel laughed then finally stood, extending her hand to Kili's and the two made their way down to the fire and food.
Coming around the fire, they sat beside Fili who had his head buried in the map, having just removed the finished rabbit from the flames. "I think if we leave early, we can make good time and should hit Bree by tomorrow evening. Doesn't appear we're too far off." Kili grumbled as he cut into his dinner Tauriel had just passed around.
Fili was, in fact, spot on to Kili's annoyance. The group managed to make it to Bree the following evening but decided to push on rather than spend the night. Balin had warned against drawing too much attention and they were not sure if any of the party had chosen Bree as a stopping point. Allowing the older dwarves the chance to rest in an inn whether they chose to or not seemed like something they should do. Instead, the small party opted to make camp a few hours past the small town.
The sky was just beginning darken on the day they were to meet with Thorin and the company and they would have been worried about missing it had they not had an elf on hand whose superior eyesight spotted proof of civilization in the exact spot as the map had indicated. She had climbed a tree to get their bearings when she saw it a ways off, but not too far as to not easily make it by that evening. She was looking forward to a night under a roof and truth be told, she missed Thorin as well as Balin and the rest of the dwarves from Ered Luin. She was, however, a little apprehensive about meeting the new dwarves which would be joining their small group. Fili and Kili assured her if she could win Ered Luin over, she could win anyone over. Fili joked that worst case scenario, she just needs to save a family from certain death. This neither amused Tauriel or Kili.
The sun was just passing beyond the horizon when two dwarven princes and an elf tied their horses off at the entrance of what looked like a town built inside multiple hillsides. Fili and Kili marveled at the small round doors, small for even them, and the perfect fences which made up the Shire. Tauriel was more focused on the distrustful looks of the small beings as they finished their day's work and began closing their stands down.
"Excuse me, could you point us in the direction of ?"
"I believe it's Baggins meleth nin." Kili shrugged as the two looked to the small being before them. "Ah, you mean Mr. Bilbo, he would be just at the top. Last door, couldn't miss it."
They did actually miss it, and had to ask another two 'hobbits' they learned the inhabitants were called, exactly where to go. It felt with each turn of the path, where were another line of small round doors. Finally, they saw what they were looking for. Balin had instructed there would be a mark on the door signaling the location of the meeting. Without hesitation, Fili and Kili stepped up to the painted door. Each was debating on whether to knock or just walk in when Tauriel simply reached over them and rung the bell then stood quietly behind the two brothers as they waited for someone to answer.
It didn't take long when the door swung open revealing a disgruntled looking hobbit. "Fili", "Kili", "and Tauriel" Each stating their name in the dwarven customary greeting, before finishing together with a bow "At your service." Then her precious husband opened his mouth.
"You must be Mr. Boggins"
"Baggins" She corrected quietly but the hobbit rendered them all silent then he proceeded to deny the claim before promptly closing the door. Kili's fast reflexes had him pushing himself at the door however, asking if the meeting had been cancelled. "No one told us." Fili muttered as they both stepped further into the doorway to the Hobbits utter dismay.
"Cancelled? No nothing's been canceled." Hearing this, the relieved brothers pushed completely in, to the amusement of Tauriel who finally stepped through behind Fili.
"Be careful with these, I just had them sharpened." The poor hobbit, still stuttering, didn't have a choice but take the pile of swords from the blond dwarf, then looked even more startled when looking up to see her. She watched as his eyes took in her features, from the narrow face to the pointed ears. "You're, forgive, but you're not a dwarf. You are, an elf, if I am not mistaken."
Tauriel bowed slightly. "Elen síla lúmenn' omentielvo." The hobbit just stared, transfixed on the elf before him. "A star shines on the hour of our meeting." She repeated in common tongue. Before he could respond though, Tauriel's eyes followed his to her husband, who to her horror, was making himself at home.
"Nice place, did you do it yourself" he hollered as he proceeded through the entrance. The hobbit tried to respond, replying it had been in the family for years when he was sidetracked by Kili beginning to scape his boots on the box near the wall.
"That's my mothers glory box, can you please not do that." Tauriel rushed forward grabbing her husband by the arm and yanking him away from the box, muttering an apology to the aggravated looking hobbit. Her husband was nonplussed though and swiftly turned from her to continue to take in his surroundings, disappearing around the corner with Fili and leaving her with the hobbit holding a pile of Fili's knives.
"Forgive them, they seemed to have left their manners with their mother." Tauriel took the pile of weapons and the hobbit's attention was quickly turned back to the dwarves and he too left her without so much a remark back.
Tauriel had just barely set the blades down when she heard a low, and very threatening growl. It was her only warning as she was forcefully shoved against the door and before she could prepare or defend herself in any way, a large arm placed itself at her windpipe, easily cutting off her air supply.
"I don't know how you heard about this meeting elf, but I will kill you before you can do anything to stop it." His arm tightened and spots where beginning to form in her vision. She tried to get some momentum to move him, but with the positions she was in against the door she just could not get any leverage. She was stuck. The bald, very large, dwarf, let out a sneer as Tauriel's eyes looked to Fili's knives on the bench. She reached out her hand, but they were just too far. She attempted to get a purchase on his thick forearm, pushing it away from her windpipe, but between her inability to breath, and his incomparable strength, this was an easy one-sided battle.
All of a sudden, through her peripheral vision, a streak of black launched itself at the large dwarf pulling the startled figure back to topple on the floor. Now free, Tauriel fell hard to the wood beneath her, her lungs fighting to take in air as coughing spasms ripped from her sore windpipe.
"Brother no!"
"Dwalin, back down!"
She could make out scuffling as the dwarves attempted to put themselves between the elf and her attacker. "Are, are, you okay?" She did not recognize the voice at first, then realized it belonged to the hobbit, Bilbo, she thinks she remembers.
"Mr. Bilbo, can you get the lass some water please?" The hobbit rose quickly then scurried off out of site before rushing back in, a small cup making its way into her line of vision. Balin helped her drink which seemed to somewhat calm the spasms rippling down her neck.
The cup was soon replaced with an extremely worried looking Kili who was running his hands over her face, neck, and shoulders. Looking her over for damage. Seeing he was no longer holding back the larger bald figure, Tauriel's slightly panicked eyes looked past her assessing husband to Fili who had the dwarf barely contained behind them.
"Does someone want to explain to me why an elf is here!? Makers beard, tell me you two didn't bring her! Thorin will kill you both for this." Kili was on his last string. She watched when he snapped. Her husband was, after all, of the line of Durin. Known for their passionate nature and though he was considered to be a cheerful, even jolly, young Dwarrow, he quickly flipped when those he loves most are being threatened. Before he had a chance to turn on the older dwarf though, Tauriel caught him by the tunic trying to tell him no, but the words only came out as grinding coughs. She guess's her vocal chords weren't ready to speak yet.
Instead of releasing him, she attempted to pull him forward, closer to her, as she used his presence to take the time she needed to try and calm her still rapidly beating heart and heaving lungs. Understanding her need, Kili allowed her to keep him where he was and instead turned a darkened glare to someone who he usually looked up to.
"Thorin knows about her brother. This is Tauriel, I told you about her in my message months back." Dwalin, as Tauriel later learned his name, was staring between the elf on the floor, the glaring Kili, and his brother who was still trying to coax the elf into drinking water. His next statement came out a dark and low.
"Are you telling me this is the one who Kili is married to?!" His voice grew with each word.
"Aye brother, Thorin himself gave her away. I personally officiated. What's done is done." Tauriel was finally getting everything under control when a great knock caused her to startle. Kili jumped up, giving Dwalin another dark look before leaning down to help Tauriel to her feet, moving her away from the door and into the hall a bit to the side but still in view of the main entrance. Kili then placed her behind him, eyes not moving from Dwalin. He didn't trust him not to attack again, even with Fili still holding the angry dwarf back.
Bilbo seemed to have had it at this point and walked to the entrance muttering curses at dwarves as he moved to open the door, but had to quickly step back as a large gathering of dwarves came literally falling onto the frustrated hobbits doorstep. There was a chorus of groans as each attempted to right themselves and get inside.
"Fili, Kili, you made it! Makers hammer, what happened to ye lass?" Gloin's voice drawing the attention of the others in his party.
"Aye lass, ye look like a ghost." Bofur came forward, eyeing the elf before Oin bustled through the crowd. "Great Mahal, I shoulda known it would be one of ye to firs' be need'n aid." Before Tauriel knew it, he had pushed her into a small chair and began fussing over her, clucking as he went. She hissed when his large hands hit a particularly sensitive spot. Kili seeing her reaction, stopped Oin in his work and carefully unclasped the long travel cloak letting it crumple behind her. His eyes widened in horror at the dark, angry bruises on her neck and upper chest now revealed which were previously hidden underneath the heavy cloak.
His eyes darkened as he once again moved to go over to Dwalin, but Tauriel grasped his coat tightly, silently begging him to stay. One look at her and he remained where he was but moved to give Oin enough space to continue checking her over. Eventually Oin took the cup from Balin and placed it securely in Tauriel's slightly shaking hand and told her to drink up, it would be the only thing to help her. The bruising will be gone within a day or two with her rapid ability to heal.
Lifting the cup to her lips, she took in the group of dwarves now staring at her and swiftly drank before placing the small cup in her lap and remaining quiet. It hurt to talk anyway, though her throat was already feeling better and she had finally gotten her heartbeat and spasms under control.
"Alright, there is work to do and mouths to feed lads, Fili, Ori, help us with the table to make room. Bombur you and Dori can get prepping in the kitchen. There is plenty to do, let's give the lass a moment and get to work." They all slowly left the room following Balin's instructions with Bilbo stuttering behind them. "Now, now, food? Prep?"
Kili opened his mouth to ask Tauriel how she was feeling when an unfamiliar voice filled the room, beating him to it. "Well isn't this unexpected. Ar cin eithel? Are you well, lady elf?"
"I am now, I thank you." She finally rasped out. Her voice sounded much more steady than she felt, but she silently applauded herself for responding. "Forgive me, are you Mithrandir? I have heard stories but I fear I have never happened on such a meeting."
The tall figure chuckled and inclined his head. "I am indeed my lady. And whom do I owe the pleasure of meeting? I am quite curious on how an elf came to be with a group of dwarves of all things."
"Tauriel, at your service." Was her automatic reply, causing Kili to smile broadly at the quick dwarven introduction she had chosen over a more formal elvish kind.
"You are the Tauri I have been hearing most about on our way over? Not the wife of young Kili here?" Tauriel laughed at her husbands incredulous face. He hated it when anyone second guessed or questioned his marriage. He sat back on his haunches next to Tauriel's feet and adopted a sour look. Tauriel smiled and ran her hand through his hair, bringing the ghost of a smile back to his handsome face.
"One in the same." She was sure the curious wizard wanted more information, but at the moment, she had only the desire to stand and join the dwarves in preparing for the meeting. Her eyes darting from one to the next as they moved tables and chairs, and she closed her eyes as her senses took in Bombur's cooking. Kili tried to stop her from rising but she batted him away. "I am fine meleth nin. I assure you." Kili watched her warily for a minute before accepting her decision and rising himself. If Gandalf was taken aback by her lack of explanation, he didn't show it and just watched with a twinkle in his eye as the couple joined the company in preparing food.
"Ah, lass, ye doin' better?" Tauriel took the plate of buns from Bofur as she entered what appeared to be the kitchen. The room was filled with dwarves, some she knew and a few she did not. "I am, thank you." She supplied as she went to place the platter on the table then turned back to the kitchen for more. Bofur's eyes watching her as he continued to prepare alongside his brother. Kili, seeing she was under the watchful eyes of someone he trusted, left to help Fili get enough chairs and collect the barrel of ale.
On one of her trips back to the kitchen, she stumbled into one of the unfamiliar dwarves who appeared to be quite young. They collided with a startled "oof" Tauriel instantly dropping the silverware she was about to set. "Oh, I am so sorry." Tauriel lifted her eyes to the young dwarf who immediately bent down, continuously stammering out apologies as he helped her retrieve the scattered cutlery. Kili appeared in the corner of her eye, approaching quickly but a nod of her head in dismissal had him hesitating, before going back to helping Fili.
"It is quite alright. I should have been watching. I apologize. Thank you." The dwarf nodded and blushed, but did not turn to leave. "I am Ori, by the way, Ori, at your service."
"Tauriel, at yours." She easily responded, happy to see the open look on the young face. "Are you truly married to Kili? That's what Bofur was saying on the way over. Though he didn't mention you bein'…" He paused as he went to hand her the last spoon from the floor and she watched as his eyes traveled to her pointed ears.
"An elf?" She finally supplied when the young dwarf, Ori, remained silent. He blushed and apologized again, but she just stopped him. "It's alright, I know what I am. And yes, Kili and I were married not three months ago."
"Oi, you two, we bein' ready for more dishes. Min' grabbin' these for the table?" Tauriel grabbed the cutlery, rinsed it, then returned it back to the table before going back to Bofur who had a counter full of platters and plates ready to serve. Ori and Tauriel continued their treks there and back again as the small hobbit swerved between dwarves mumbling his frustrations.
Soon, the table was surrounded by a very loud and equally hungry company of Dwarrows. Kili sat beside Tauriel, but next to her was one of the dwarves she had yet to meet. It turned out to be Ori's brother, Dori, who pleasantly surprised her by asking her about the wedding, wanting to know every detail. Ori too broke into the conversation several times, and both smiled when Tauriel gushed about her husbands kind gesture in adding her own elvish tradition in.
Having lived with Dwarrows for over a year now, and knowing Fili, it did not surprise her when the golden-haired prince stepped right up on top of the table to distribute ale. Making it a point to stop in front of her, clucking at her plate and pushed a bowl of potatoes and gravy towards her using his….foot? Wouldn't his mother be proud. He even refused to move on until she added the proffered food onto her plate to which he smiled, passed her an ale, and went on his merry way up the table.
She sighed at her overfilled plate as Ori and Dori both looked on amused. Her husband, as always with the antics of his brother, just let out a large guffaw to which she reciprocated with a perfectly aimed kick under the table. It did little to cease his laughter. Her attention was caught by her dwarven brother sitting further up now, as he indicated back to her plate and joined his brother in laughing.
All eyes widened as a wad of potatoes flung over the table and landed, dripping, on Fili's forehead; darting from the narrowed eyed elf holding a dirty fork still in the air to the blonde prince still dripping with mashed potatoes and gravy. He did not hesitate to reciprocate and soon, the air was filled with food flying and laughter. Tauriel's own laughter mixing with her dwarven family and company.
"Are ye sure she's an elf?" One asked. His hair was styled in three points and his beard came down in several braids. "We don' know lad, she's more dwarf then elf, if ye be asken me." Bofur responded laughing before he leaned over and hit his mug of ale against Tauriel's. This quicky starting a toasting of cups as the dwarves slammed their mugs against each other's before lifting them to their lips, causing the air to fill with a mix of silence and gulping of the amber liquid ending in a cheer.
Eventually, all bellies were happily filled. Tauriel leaned against her husband at the table, contently watching the company pick at the final scraps on their plates. Gandalf conversing quietly with Balin up the table.
"Where do you think he is?" She felt more than heard Kili's hummed response. She knew he had about as much idea where Thorin was as she did. Still, she worried for the dwarven king, and missed him. She had not seen him since just after their wedding when he was back for barely a day before leaving to go to the clans.
"I did hear Dwalin mention he got held up. He should be here soon." Dwalin, the dwarf who was still staring at her like she was an orc in their party. Kili flat out refused to allow the larger dwarf anywhere near Tauriel as she was helping in the kitchen, and remained uncharacteristically calm as Dwalin berated the young prince for "merging with the traitorous scum" she believes she heard, her ears easily picking up the cadence of snapping words and readying herself to come to his aid if necessary. Fili had stepped in and her attention was moved back to the kitchen and setting the table.
Her musings were brought back to the present when a tapping of silverware at the table caused the poor hobbit to fret about them blunting the knives. In any other company, especially elves, this would cause for an apology of the deepest kind. However, these were not elves, they were dwarves and poor Bilbo found himself at the center of a song started by her very own dwarven prince. As it was harmless though, and she knew they were in no way going to break anything, she joined in. Tossing plates, bowls, cups, and cutlery in tune with the music and singing all around her.
Even old Balin sat at the table allowing things to bounce past him, aiding the flying dishes on their way as needed. The song culminated into a final note and heady laughter as the pile of dishes stood piled and clean on the table, to poor Bilbo's consternation.
The laughter immediately ceased when a thunderous knock filled the large hobbit hole. Gandalf's voice cutting the silence muttering, "He is here."
Tauriel turned to Balin and then quickly followed the tall wizard to the large round door. Fili, Kili, and the company following closely behind.
She heard him before she saw him, "Gandalf. I thought you said this place would be easy to find." Claiming he had lost his way twice as he removed his travel cloak. He only found it in thanks to the mark, which Bilbo in frustration denied being there, only to be horrified when Gandalf mentioned having placed it there himself.
Thorin looked around as he stepped in, smiling genuinely at his nephew's and Tauriel as she stepped forward relieving him of his travel cloak bundled in his arms. His eyes flicked down to the prominent bruising on her normally alabaster neck. She saw the moment his attitude changed, easily picking out the same dark look Kili and Fili both adopted when they were moving into over-protective mode. She swiftly shook her head and mouthed a speedy, "later". Thorin watched her for a moment, then nodded and turned back to the entrance where Gandalf introduced him to the halfling.
"He looks more like a grocer than a burglar." He shot out before turning towards the door leading to the eating area. Tauriel, Fili and Kili quickly followed, Tauriel moving past the two brothers and set about getting Thorin something to eat before heading to place it before the leader of the group. She stopped short, however, when Dwalin stepped directly in her path. "I will not allow you to give the king anything, elf." His voice dripping with danger. Tauriel tried to move around him but he took up the entire space.
"Dwalin, let her through brother. She's no threat." Thorin too had turned his head from his conversation with Gandalf beside him. "Let her pass Dwalin." It was Thorin's command which finally had the large dwarf moving reluctantly but not before promising "If you poisoned or tainted that, I will kill you before you knew what had happened, elf." She passed him without even acknowledging his threat and placed the bowl, some bread, and a cup of ale before Thorin, who seemed to be making a connection between what he just saw and the marks on her neck.
Tauriel, not wanting to cause any more of a scene, did not even make eye contact. Only moved away to sit further down the table between Fili and Kili, both moving in close but neither smothering her. She did, however, lift her hand to slide it into Kili's. She felt fine, for the most part, but did need a little comfort from her One. Kili just tightened his hand in hers lacing their fingers together before giving her small hand a squeeze and allowing their joined hands to settle on his knee, his eyes, though, never left his uncle at the head of the table.
On her other side, Fili leaned subtly closer, his shoulder making contact with hers. He did not say anything outright, but his posture and position easily eluded 'I am here and ready to defend'. She never felt safer and more valued then when she sat between these two young dwarrows. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, but knowing someone not only always had her back, but even cared about her well-being opened her eyes to what it was like actually having a family. She smiled and looked towards the head of the table.
Thorin declared the dwarves and Lords all agreed to join their cause, bringing a round of cheers from the company at the table. Though, when Dwalin inquired on the addition of Dain and the Iron Hills, Thorin shook his head, muttering lowly that they would not be joining. This was to be their quest, and thier's alone.
"You're going on a quest?" Tauriel had half forgotten about the small hobbit, who had been quiet since they reentered the dining room. There was a flurry of mutterings featuring it being time, before Gandalf called for more light and pulled a folded piece of parchment from his person, opening it before Thorin at the table.
Tauriel's mind filtered out all the sounds of the company around her as she stared at the paper. She barely heard someone say something about magic doors, and didn't even register the key. All her heightened elven eyesight could see was the inked outline of The Lonely Mountain, she knew that outline. Her forest, she could just make out on the supposed map, was just south at the bottom of the parchment.
The room and its inhabitants faded into the mists as she found herself staring at the tall, cold peek of the tall, single, mountain. It was silent save for something in the distance calling her name. She felt herself be pulled across the plain to a high cliff, a hill, where a cluster of ravens swarmed. The caws echoing her name in their broken, birdlike, cries. Her mind followed a trail of blood where a golden creature lay slain and unmoving in the snow. She couldn't make out what it was, it had no form, but she didn't have time to dwell on it as she heard a cry above her, and her name being called again. In moments she found herself surrounded by the deafening sound of the ravens, all screaming her name in a cacophony of sounds and calls as they swarmed in the thousands around her. Between there yells she heard the sound of metal on metal and then, a distant and slightly familiar yell as the ravens were deafened by metal being pierced and her world shattering, all to the undercurrent of a heartbeat pounding in her ear. Each beat rang with her name over and over and over "Tauriel. Tauriel. Tauriel". Unable to stop it she lifted her hands to her ears trying to block out the sounds to little avail, finally screaming "STOP! PLEASE!"
"Tauriel? Amralime?" It took her several moments to realize she was surrounded by dwarves, hovering over her as Kili attempted to pull her shaking hands from her ears. He looked at her with concern as her wild eyes darted back and forth trying to pull herself from the dark vision, which was leaving her mind almost as quickly as it came.
"I am alright." She said it, though she did not feel it. She was tired of having these triggered moments where her mind hurled itself into the few, unpleasant, memories Manwe left a part of her. As a warning. The broken memories mutated by her own fear and apprehension often morphed into terrifying nightmares and day visions whenever something reminded her of Erabor. She never managed to wake Kili or Fili when they came to her at night, so she kept them to herself, though Kili has caught her in her deep day visions once or twice.
This, however, was the first time they came so severe it caused such a reaction as it had in her. She felt like she was stuck and for a moment, she questioned if she was in some sort of purgatory. Everything she had lived in the last year being a dream of escape from her sufferings. The rough large hands of Kili, as always, brought her attention from her internal torments as he tried to get her to focus. "Hey, come on. Come back to me. That's it." His soothing voice mixed with his gentle hands stilled her trembling form, and she attempted to follow his own breathing patterns to calm her breaths and ease her heart.
"Makers hammer. What in the name of Mahal was tha'!" Fili glared at Dwalin in the back of the crowd. "The elf witch is clearly under a spell. We should rid ourselves of her or mark my words, she'll end this journey before it begins." The three new dwarves in the party jumped back as if afraid Tauriel was going to confound them in some way but her friends and family from Ered Luin only scoffed and drew in closer, filling the gaps.
"Enough!" Thorin having had his fill of Dwalin's remarks, roared as he settled in front of the still trembling elf. "What is it? Are you alright?" He reached over his nephew to place a firm hand on her shaking shoulder, being careful to avoid the bruising which could still be tender.
"Thorin! No!" Dwalin's protests however, only had the king turning a dark look at his close friend before going back to Tauriel, the elf he considered as much a daughter as Kili and Fili were sons.
Tauriel took another moment, allowing the presence of her family steady her, before slowly nodding to Thorin. Her embarrassment quickly covering her fear as she looked around at everyone, 13 dwarves, one hobbit, and a wizard, all staring at her with mixed expressions of concern, horror, fear, and anger. The last only really coming from Dwalin who stood in the back his arms folded over his rigid chest.
"I am fine. Really. I.." Tauriel took in a deep calming breath "I do not know what happened. But, I am well." Thorin stared at her for another minute, as if gaging himself of the stability of her mental state before nodding and turning to Gandalf near the back of the group.
"Very well, we'll do this your way. Balin, get the contract."
Just like that, the dwarves' attention was diverted from the elf, giving her a moment to continue collecting herself, as Balin stepped away to place one of the contracts in the hobbits hands. Dwarves and their contracts. She remembered the contract from her betrothal to Kili, the one she eventually signed in marriage, and the one she had to sign to join the company.
Dwarrows held honor and loyalty high, but made sure everyone knew what they were getting themselves into and what they were getting from it. In this case, danger, possible death, and a slew of ways one could be injured for a 14th, well, 15th now, share of the treasure inside Erebor itself. To be honest, Tauriel had no desire for even a single piece of that gold and tried to tell Thorin, Balin, Fili, and Kili as much when they drew up the contracts before Thorin left. She urged them to take it from her contract arguing she had received a greater treasure in obtaining a family and the respect and friendship of the dwarves in Ered Luin. This only caused the four dwarves to insist even more of her worthiness of the award, to which she mumbled her annoyances as she signed the stupid piece of parchment.
She could hear the poor hobbit reading the possibilities of impending injury, stammering over incineration before Bofur unhelpfully gave insight on dragon fire and its effect on the body. To which Bilbo promptly fell to the floor in a dead faint.
One by one, the dwarves left the room to check on the hobbit, a few casting her with a worried or wary glance before leaving. Fili placed a kiss on her forehead and too, left the room muttering about the constitutions of hobbits and how exactly he was supposed to join when he seemed far more like a liability.
Kili pulled Tauriel into his lap, winding his arms around her tightly as she adjusted for the small height difference, settling between his legs and lying her head on his shoulder. "What did you see, Amralime?" Tauriel did not move or acknowledge his question. She only sat quietly listening to the now risen hobbit question Gandalf, and the sounds of the party in another room murmuring back and forth. If she spoke of it, it would make it real, and the last thing she wanted real was what she saw. Kili sighed in frustration, but did not move or question her further. "I know you don't want to talk about it. But, when you are ready Tauriel. Please know you can come to me. No matter the time, please, please, Tauriel, know I will be here for you."
A guilty lump formed in Tauriel's throat as she pressed herself further into his arms, burrowing her head into his shoulder. Maybe, if she could enfold herself so deeply into him, she would never have to leave. She knew her precious Kili was always there for her. Even when he was frustrated by her occasional elven coldness and indifference which popped up less and less over the last year, he never once turned his back on her when she needed him. She felt him burry his hand in her red hair as he turned his head to press his lips to the crown of her head, allowing them to just rest there as he hummed softly. It was all she needed. He was all she ever needed.
As it was though, she knew the moment could never last. Pulling back slowly, Tauriel looked into Kili's eyes before placing a soft kiss to his waiting lips. She moved away to stand, but he chased after her, returning her lips to his for one last lingering kiss before allowing her to rise from his lap. She turned with a smile and held her hand out to him which he took without hesitation and allowed his wife to pull him to his feet and drag him into the next room where the rest of the company, except their host, gathered.
Kili joined the humming dwarves around Tauriel, as he moved to sit beside his brother, Tauriel lowering herself to the floor between their legs and laying her head on Kili's knee, listening to the rumbling hums of the company around her. Kili running his fingers through her hair as she watched Thorin across the room leaning against the fireplace with his pipe. The scene deeply reminiscent of many memories she had in the last year, transporting her back to Ered Luin on those cold nights when she sat in the family sitting room, her family gathering around her and Thorin telling stories of old.
Home sickness for Ered Luin like she never felt for Mirkwood invaded her mind as she listened to Thorin sing a haunting tale of the Lonely Mountain, the dwarves around her eventually joining him in solemn reverence for their lost homeland. The hobbit never once returning to the room.
"Come, we must rest my friends. This may be the last warm place we may lay our heads. Nori, Dori, gather, if you can, some blankets and let us all get some sleep. We leave before first light. It appears our burglar will not be joining us."
Tauriel stood and helped Nori and Dori find some blankets as Fili and Kili joined the other dwarves in making room enough to sleep.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Thorin had grabbed her arm gently in passing, as he carefully lifted his fingers to touch the dark bruises on her neck, tsking and letting out a low hiss as she jumped at the contact. "It will be gone in a few days. Do not worry over me. I will be well."
"Tauriel, you are part of my family. I will worry as I seem fit. Maker knows Dis would have a field day. Was it who I think it was? Did Dwalin do this to you?" Tauriel did not answer, she just looked at him. It was all the answer he needed though, and he let out a huff of frustration. "I will speak to him." H gave her arm a gentle squeeze and kissed her on the head before heading out of the room leaving her standing silently in front of the fire. She shook her head and went to continue her own task.
Most the dwarves chose to settle in the same room, enjoying the warmth of the fire though Bombur, Bifur, and Bofur opted to sleep in the kitchen. They apparently wanted to add a few last-minute foods to their packs. Tauriel felt slightly guilty over ravaging the poor hobbits food stores, but something inside her felt he was joining them. This would mean his food would not go to waste so all in all, things will be fine. Her family, however, felt differently.
"Well this was a waste of time." Fili snagged a blanket from Tauriel's arms and plopped unceremoniously onto the floor while his brother looked on slightly amused. "I find myself agreeing brother. Seems we have hit our first block." He joined his brother on the floor, Tauriel handing him a blanket. She shook her head, she disagreed but did not voice it. Instead she gave a few more blankets to the dwarves around her, Ori blushing and mumbling his thanks and Dori smiling wide. She really enjoyed the two brothers, they were both very kind. Nori she still had yet to get to know, though he seemed to not openly throw distain at her like a certain other member of the party.
The certain member currently locked in a whispering argument with Thorin who stood ramrod straight looking angerly at the dwarf speaking to him. She could hear what they were saying. Elven magic. Curse. Bewitching. Killing. Sabotaging the mission. Ensnaring minds. The typical words thrown at her by distrustful dwarves. She got a lot of that in Ered Luin for awhile. Eventually as the Dwarrow got to know her, and saw she had no magic or desire to harm them, they warmed to her and got to know the person behind the elf. Looking beyond her race to truly know her.
Thorin was telling him quietly to back off. She was under his personal care and to never lay a finger or blade on her again. Thorin even went as far to tell him if he was not afraid of him, he would send his sister, Dis, after Dwalin, as Dis considers Tauriel a full-blooded daughter. Dwalin must know Dis because he shifted uncomfortably but did not respond. Instead he turned from Thorin to go settle near the door, furthest away from Tauriel. Sitting high and leveling her with a glare as if he was waiting for her to try something. Thorin sighed and shook his head as he walked over to his family. Still standing, Tauriel handed the older dwarf the remaining blanket and he settled against the wall on the other side of Fili.
Having given all the blankets out, Tauriel joined her husband on the floor. Curling into his heat under the blanket and resting her head on his chest as he wound his fingers into her long hair. Fili was already out cold, causing Tauriel to chuckle at his ability to fall into a deep sleep pretty much anywhere. Kili too quickly drifted off, if his slow steady breaths and still fingers were any indication. Thorin looked at her over his sleeping nephew and whispered a calm "Sleep." Then closed his eyes to rest. Tauriel fought sleep for maybe a moment or two more, before the lulling heartbeat of her husband and the warmth of the fire caused her eyes to close as she fell into a deep, dreamless, sleep.
Authors Note: Okay, I am a total Dwalin lover so I promise I am not just picking on him and turning him into a bully. He just seemed like one who would have the most difficulties with Tauriel being an elf. Really that's all I have to say. It's late, I finished my Statistics exam and passed it, and I have to get up early for work and thanksgiving prep. OH and I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving despite our crazy world. :)