Authors Note and Disclaimer: Three things. One, tissues may be needed…sorry. Two, trust me and read it all. Three, LET THE BATTLE…BEGIN!
Chapter Twenty-Seven
"We are out of time. They have come." One phrase and Thorin jumped into action. "The time has come!" Thorin's voice echoed through the valley. Instantly the dwarven army from the iron hills followed suit with the elven army and fell into battle ready positions. Bard ordered his men to fall in line as both Bard and Thorin followed by Dain, Fili, Kili, and Tauriel ran to the frontlines.
"We must send a unit to protect Dale." Thorin turned to Bard and nodded in agreement. "How many do you need?"
"Enough for to guard the entrances on each side." Thranduil immediately ordered an entire regiment to follow several dozen men back to Dale, the remaining stood tall watching the hills beyond.
Tauriel looked around her, she could see the fear and terror on the faces of the people of Dale. Having just barely a month ago survived dragon fire, only to be thrown at the mercy or orcs, she amazed at their courage to even be standing there, some even in armor much too large for them. She looked at the elves many of whom she personally helped train, all ready to defend and fight to protect their lands and borders for both themselves and those who lack the ability and resources to do so. Finally, she looked to the dwarrows. Those she felt comfortable calling her people, her kin. There was no braver, loyal, or more courageous race among all of middle earth.
Her place was not with the elves, her place was with her people. With a smile sent to her husband, she walked towards the lines of the dwarrow warriors, Kili beaming as he joined her flanked by Fili on her other side.
A shadow fell beside Fili and he looked up to see Naurfaer standing beside him, the blond prince looking up at the taller, red headed elf. "What? You think I would stand beside princess Thranduil? Your uncle may have some temporary alliance with him, but I certainly do not. My place is beside my family." Fili gave him a look "You would choose us over your own people?" Naurfaer smiled wide "Have you spent time with elves outside Tauriel? Boring, introverted, and self-important. Plus, greens. Greens as far as the eye can see. No, I have been shown what true living is with a group of fourteen dwarrows."
Fili looked around, seeing their company all lined up behind them. They were Durin's folk, so they stood at the place of honor, the front of the battle line, ten behind him, his brother beside Tauriel, and his uncle walking towards them…Thirteen. "Fourteen? There are only thirteen. Maybe you oughta get your eyes check Naurfaer, or maybe you should not have a drinking contest with Bofur a bit too close to battle." Naurfaer cocked his head at Fili, then shook his head and leaned it towards Tauriel. "Fourteen…and a half." He let his eyes fall to her stomach. Fili looked at his sister then he understood. Tauriel was the fourteenth dwarrow. He let a smile fill his face at the truth of it. "Yes. Fourteen." He heard himself say.
"We are ready fer yeh orders, Thorin." Tauriel stood, hand in hand with Kili, watching Thorin stand before them. Dain was just beside him having had done one last check with his clan. She was proud of her place with them, proud and honored to have earned this great dwarven kings loyalty, trust, and love. She glanced at her Kili beside her, though he was shorter than her, he still stood tall. If she was going to die today, she will die knowing it was for her family, and most likely, with her family.
"TODAY WE ARE CALLED TO BATTLE!" Thorin called. Tauriel lifted her eyes from Kili to watch Thorin pacing the lines of dwarven warriors. All silently listening to the one who was King under the mountain, with or without an official coronation.
"This very day we raise our axes. We raise our swords. We raise our bows and hammers. We FIGHT for what is OURS!" There was a round of calls in agreement. Tauriel could see Thranduil turn his elk towards Thorin and Bard stop his instruction with some of the men in his own frontline as all eyes, elf, dwarf, and man alike fell on the majestic dwarven king.
"THESE LANDS BELONG TO US! THESE HALLS ARE OUR HALLS. WE WILL NOT LAY OUR WEAPONS DOWN AND FLEE INTO THE MISTS AND HIDE LIKE FRIGHTENED PUPS, we will not watch quietly as a scourge TAKES WHAT IS OURS WHAT WE FOUGHT FOR, WHAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR! On this day we rise together. We are not three armies, but one, united TOGETHER!" He looked over the valley filled with warriors, not just humans, elves, and dwarves, but warriors.
"Together we will DESTROY the plague that comes this way. Together we raise our arms on this day so that tomorrow, tomorrow our kingdoms will be safe FOR OUR PEOPLE, FOR OUR FAMILIES, AND FOR OUR CHILDREN! There was a roar of cheers that filled the valley. Tauriel raise her blades high into the air with the dwarrows, Bard yelled along with the humans, even the elves raised their bows and swords high in the air. Tauriel had never seen such a thing or dreamed a day would come when elf and dwarf stood beside each other in battle, rather than against the other.
A loud rumble broke through the yells, then it was as if an explosion burst through hills. Thorin pulled his sword, raised it high and yelled "BARUK KHAZAD! KHAZAD AI-MENU!" All dwarrow echoing his war call, Tauriel and Naurfaer adding their voices to the cry.
Beside them Thranduil pulled his own blade, adding "GURTH GOTH RYM LYE!" (Death to our foes). The elven battle cry, the elves repeating in sync.
Bard too led the humans in a cry of "FOR DALE!" the men yelling and shaking their sharpened blades high.
Tauriel watched as if it was in slow motion as Thorin whipped himself around to face the hills beyond which exploded with a wave of creatures spilling out and running towards them. "Tauriel, together." She felt Kili's presence beside her. Felt his strength, his power. She nodded. "Fili, together." She passed to her brother on her other side. He turned to them both repeating "Together." Just as the first line of goblins and orcs hit them with a deafening crash of swords and steel.
The muscle memory in her hands knew exactly what to do as she took down one orc, then two, then four. Kili was beside her, the two working together to down as many as possible with Fili only steps away. She threw one of her blades, hitting an orc about to attack Fili from behind, Fili turning a grateful smile to her before impaling another. They lost track of where Thorin had gone. In the second she had between attacking hoards she looked around. All she saw was a never-ending sea of armored orcs. How were they going to make it out of this with their lives?
A quick glance over her shoulder saw Bilbo struggling with an orc nearly three times his size. Breaking off from Kili and Fili, Tauriel slid under another advancing creature and shoved her blade up into the orc about to take Bilbo down. She jumped up and pushed the halfling behind her and continued attacking anything that came near. She gave Bilbo an impressed grin when he thrust his small blade between the sections of armor on an orc behind her.
"Tauriel!" The eleth was about to take down another when she was distracted by Kili's voice. She hissed as she felt the orcs blade graze her thigh. She twisted, rolled over the orcs back and stabbed her blade into his spine, downing him instantly. "I am here Kili!" She called going directly into battle once again with the unending line of grey coming at her. She felt something slam into her back, hard, causing Tauriel to lose her balance and fall the ground. She flipped around to see a blade thrusting down towards her. A yell rang out as Kili was launched over the attacking orc as his own sword went down, slicing the arm off the orc before Tauriel pushed her blade unto his abdomen.
Kili extended his arm "What happened to together?" Tauriel rolled her eyes "You can yell at me later, a bit occupied at the moment." She threw another of her blades at another who was about to take Bofur out, the dwarrow tipping his hat at Tauriel as he grabbed her blade from the dead orc and gave it a throw, embedding it in an orc beside her both killing the orc and giving her back her dagger. Impressive. She pulled her blade from the felled creature and went back to work.
"What was that?" Tauriel looked to Fili who stood beside her. She heard it too, a trumpeting filling the air. She stopped, looking over the army. "I don't know. Come on!" She made her way through the battle, taking out as many as she could as she tried to get to some higher ground. Kili was right at her side as she looked beyond the battle. Her heart filled with horror as she saw another line of advancing creatures, massive trolls! Trolls ridden by orcs and goblins, trolls with great contraptions on their backs, trolls with alterations to their arms and legs to aid them in battle. "Valar help us."
Another horn blast filled the air and Tauriel turned to see some of the massive creatures heading towards the city with a swarm of orcs and goblins following behind them. Where was Bard? She looked to see the dark-haired man being attacked by an orc riding troll and ran towards him. "Fili, remember the air attack? Do it!" Fili nodded and raced just ahead of Tauriel, bending down just as Tauriel reached him. She pulled her bow, knocked an arrow and lifted her foot to Fili's extended hands, bracing herself as he launched her high into the air. She released a deadly arrow straight into the head of one of the large trolls attacking the bowman. Kili joined his brother slicing at its legs and arms. The giant beast fell hard, causing its rider to roll off its back and begin his own assault. Bard easily took him out and looked to the three before him.
"Bard, they are attacking the city!" The man whipped his head around to Dale just as a troll reached its gates. He called out orders calling men with him. Seeing the need, several of the elves followed as did some of Dain's iron hills dwarves. Tauriel watched as Thranduil too charged his stag across the great stone bridge, its great antlers barging through the throng of orcs and goblins. She saw him disappear through the city entrance and hoped he would be alright. She had no love for the elven king, but she wished no ill will for the one who took her in either.
"TAURI LOOK OUT!" Tauriel jumped away just as an arrow soared past her cheek, planting itself in an orc with his sword raised about to take Tauriel out. "TAURIEL! Not the time for daydreaming! WAKE UP!" Kili lowered his bow before raising it again to take a few more retreating orcs out. He flung the bow back behind him and drew his sword, Tauriel following close behind to join him and Fili who was giving her a look, she rolled her eyes and threw another blade. This was becoming very repetitive and seemed to be getting nowhere. For every troll, orc, and goblin they felled, three more appeared behind it.
The trio kept fighting, taking out all they could despite the never-ending supply of foes coming at them. Together they worked to take every, single, one down. Out of the corner of her eye, Tauriel saw Nori, Gloin, and Bofur fighting just beside her, she heard one of them call out Nori's name before Gloin and Nori knelt low, Bofur using their shields as steps launching himself up onto the troll where he took out the rider and planting himself in the seat, controlling the beast. A flash of red caught her eye and she looked to see Naurfaer controlling another, larger troll...laughing. Maybe a strain of madness ran in her family as well.
Her back met something solid and she flipped around and raised her dagger high before lowering it just as fast. "Thorin!" He gave her a nod and she watched as Dain stalked up to them using his large hammer to flatten anything coming towards him. Fili and Kili joined her in guarding Thorin. "Thorin! There are too many of 'em. We need a new plan!"
Tauriel froze as she followed his eyes up to a hill. A hill covered in snow. No. That hill was wrong. That hill was cursed. Her heart stopped at Thorin's words "Aye. We are taking out their leader." She turned her eyes to the crest of Ravenhill, to where the silhouette of a large, white orc could just be visible. She had never seen him, but Thorin had told her the stories in front of the warm fire in Ered Luin. Stories of Azog, the defiler who has made it his sole purpose to see the end to the line of Durin. She was carrying a son of Durin. Her life was in just as much peril as any of them if the white, Gundabad orc found out. The beginning of their end had begun as Balin came out of nowhere with a ram pulled cart, Dwalin on the back. Thorin jumped onto another ram running his way and steered it towards the hill.
"KILI! FILI! TAURIEL! I NEED YOU WITH ME!" The three jumped onto the cart as it followed Thorin up. "Kili!" Kili turned to Tauriel, his eyes asking what his voice did not "Kili this is it." He laced his fingers with hers looking deep into her eyes "I do not plan on dying today, Amralime. Fili!" The blond prince on the opposite side of the cart looked over at them. "Be on guard! Our time is coming!" Fili caught on to Kili's warnings and gave them a nod as Balin charged them through a wall of orcs. Whatever fate they were to meet, it was on that hill.
The ram pulled cart tore through the orcs, taking them out as it passed. Kili, Fili, and Tauriel held tight as Balin sailed them over unlevel ground, once Kili even grabbing onto Tauriel to keep her from launching out of cart as it cleared a particularly high hill falling onto the frozen ice-bedded river. "Woah there, love. No leaving me yet." She took a moment to chuckle as he righted her and kissed his forehead. "Would not dream of it."
"Ugh. Even in battle you two?! Save it for the celebration once we survive this!" Kili rolled his eyes at his brother as Tauriel laughed. "Eyes ahead! WARGS!" They heard Balin call. The monstrous creatures carrying orcs to the sides of their cart, launching themselves onto it as it sped over the ice. Tauriel took one out and watched as Fili and Kili teamed up for another.
Not seeing an end, Fili looked around and finding a clip of spears for the launcher and passed it Dwalin as Tauriel helped to secure it. With a crank of the shaft, the three watched as the bald dwarrow took out the trolls ahead. "There's more coming!" Hearing her husband's voice, Tauriel moved the hair, blown in her face from the momentum, and stared at the pack gaining on them.
"We're pulling too much weight." Tauriel looked at the remaining rams, there were only four, two had been taken out by the wargs and trolls. She listened as Balin told Dwalin to take them up to Ravens Hill. Everything in her screamed no. Turn the cart around, find another way, but as she watched Dwalin begin the process of unhooking the rams, she knew their fate was sealed. Ravens hill is where they would go.
"There are only four rams!" Dwalin yelled. Four rams for five of them. "Tauriel will ride with me. Let's go!" Dwalin nodded and they watched Fili run up the middle of the rams and free one, jumping onto its back. Dwalin followed. "Are you ready, Amralime?"
"As long as you are beside me, I am ready for anything." He smiled then ran up to grab the remaining ram, Tauriel jumping to land just behind him. Luckily, she was small and light, as the ram was smaller than a horse giving less room for riders. She secured her arms tightly around Kili's and buried her face in his neck. This may be the last time she would be this close to him. She took comfort in all that was her Kili, tightening her arms and closing her eyes as he pushed the ram up the precarious hillside, trailing Fili and Dwalin.
Naurfaer jumped from his troll after it was finally taken out by several orcs and pulled his blades, jamming the ends together and swinging hard at the orcs around him. "GAL! Where did the dwarven king go?" The tall, dark haired elf shook his head and Naurfaer sighed. He looked up just in time to see Maryn running, fleeing the battle. That horse really did have a lucky streak to have survived this long. Wondering if it would work for him as it worked for Kili and Tauriel, he gave a loud whistle. The small black horse's ears flattened then raised in his direction as the horse veered towards him.
Naurfaer jumped onto her bare back before she came to a stop and pushed her through the ongoing battle, the excitable horse only protesting a moment before seeming to calm with his words. "We need to find where they went. Though you may not like this, I know you are as keen to get them back as I." The horse raced forward, Naurfaer clinging to her mane as she flew faster than he thought she could go. He pushed Maryn up over the gates of Dale, hoping to catch a glimpse of red, but saw only armored elves, dwarves, and the men…and women it seemed, of Dale. So, they rallied together! Good! Unfortunately, there was no dwarven king, no blond or dark-haired prince which also meant no Tauriel. Valar, he really needed to stop letting this family out of his sight. The moment they get out of this, he is barricading them inside that mountain. Why is it no matter where they are, they are constantly in need of rescuing! At this rate he is going to have to pay for extra guards for this family. What is with these sons of Durin! And Tauriel is no better! In fact, she is WORSE! He almost wishes Bofur or Nori were here, he'd like to start a bet on how fast that family will be in mortal peril. His bet was on now…probably.
They flew through the gates of Dale, Naurfaer scanning faces and figures as he went. He passed Thranduil's felled stag, frowning at the creature he looked around at the tiring people intermingled with dwarves and elves still fighting to protect the city from being overtaken. Naurfaer saw the tall wizard standing beside Bilbo. So, the halfling was alright. He liked the little hobbit. He drove Maryn in their direction and slipped off the black horse, who stamped around impatiently.
"Gandalf!" Naurfaer turned just in time to see the young elven prince ride to a stop. "There is another army who marches from Gundabad." Of course, the Gundabad orcs they pursued through Lake City. How had he forgotten about them? Maybe he was going senile. He half listened as he continued his search from where he stood, looking for any sign of blonde, red, and black, only to come up fruitless with each fighter he saw. His attention snapped back to the conversation when he heard Thorin's name uttered by none other than the hobbit. He surged forward.
"Thorin? You have seen Thorin? Is Fili, Kili, and Tauriel with him? Where are they?" Questions spilled from his mouth one after the other, Bilbo stuttering, trying to answer each one before being interrupted as Naurfaer spilled another out. The red headed elf put up both hands stopping the halfling in the middle of a word before he even had a chance to answer a single question when his mind unfiled one of the static memories it had heard and stashed away as he was not paying attention. The Gundabad orc army was arriving in the north. Ravenhill was in the north. Thorin was on Ravenhill. Fili, Kili, and Tauriel were with Thorin.
Naurfaer sighed and closed his eyes. Of COURSE they were on Ravenhill. Of COURSE he was right as they were currently in mortal peril. Those stupid, reckless, Durin's. Every. Single. One. Including the red headed elfin Durin. How she had survived to 600 years of age is a wonder to him. He looked up at Legolas after leaping onto Maryn's back, the horse prancing in place. "They, Tauriel, Kili, Fili, and Thorin are up there and if I am correct, which I am quite sure that I am, in need of rescuing. You up for a game of orc hunting? Two points for the small ones, double for large and ten extra points for each of the four Durin's you rescue?"
Legolas gave a quick nod and jumped up on his own mare and the two flew towards the hill, Legolas just missing his father, the elven king grimly watching him go.
Kili and Tauriel were the last of the rams to make it to the top of the hill, both jumping off and going right into battle with the few orcs around them. Something was off, there should be more orcs. Tauriel looked around the mists, her mind seeing blood-soaked snows and mounds of blondes and blacks. She shook her head, they were alive and around her, that was nothing more than a scare tactic from a foul creature.
"Where are they?!" She turned to Kili who had his sword drawn and was only a pace from her looking around.
"Where is he?" The three turned to their uncle who was looking to an abandoned structure that looked as if it was designed as a massive signal. "Has Azog fled?" Tauriel's green eyes landed on Kili. Kili so hopeful, so desperate for a chance for them to get out of this. She shook her head at him, not for a second believing that monster would flee his chance when looking over the valley it seemed as if he had the upper hand. Thorin echoed her thoughts with a solemn "No." She quietly watched as he looked around then turned to the three of them.
"Fili, take Tauriel and Kili. Search the tower. Stay low. Do not engage. If you see anything, get out. Do you hear me? Get out of there. I will not lose a single one of you to this. We are in this together." He was about turn to Dwalin when sounds of growling and shrieking filled the air around them "Goblin mercenaries! We can take care of them. You three, go. Now." He then turned to his longtime friend and cousin "Are you with me my friend?" Dwalin smiled "Always." The two lifting their blades just as the line of goblins hit them.
Tauriel followed Kili and Fili into the seemingly abandoned tower with a feeling of what could only be terror. Her mind kept screaming for Fili, but she did not know why. Fili stopped just before he went around a corner and leaned heavily against the wall. "Fi? What is it? Did you see something?" Kili walked around his brother to peer around the corner only to see a darkened corridor. Fili was mumbling something. Not quite making it out, Tauriel inched closer to her brother, her sensitive ears trying to pick up what his lips were mouthing nearly silently.
"A light, fire on all sides. Hands. This one dies first. Then the brother." He was saying it in rounds and only stopped when Tauriel reached up her shaking hand to lay it on his shoulder, breaking Fili from his waking nightmare. "Fili?" His fearful blue eyes met her desperate green ones. "I will die here." Tauriel looked at him then shook his head.
"No brother. We will live. All of us." She looked up at Kili who was still at the corner, looking between the two he loved most and the shadows ahead.
"I think it best we stay together. Come one." Kili nodded at Tauriel, Fili looking at her as if he was trying to believe her words and pushed off the wall, stepping in front of his brother and continued leading the way. They turned a corner, then another but the tower was empty, abandoned.
"Maybe they are…" Fili's words were cut short by an elven hand covering his mouth. He looked back at her, eyebrows lowered in confusion. Kili was about to ask when she shot him a stern look and shook her head, instantly silencing whatever he was about to say. Tauriel listened. Her hand not moving from Fili's mouth as she tuned her ears into the halls ahead. A shuffle, quiet but sure. They were not alone. "We need to leave. Now." She breathed, removing her hand from Fili's mouth, and grabbing him by the arm.
"Should we not go and see what is ahead?" Fili only gave a small tug but otherwise let her guide them out the way they came. She stopped when lights filled the halls ahead of her and turned, pushing them the other way. "Go…GO!" The three picked up pace as they turned one corner after another. Whatever was coming, was closing in on them. Seeing a passage ahead, Fili, now at the rear, physically pushed Tauriel and Kili who was just in front of her through. A window, or maybe the remains of a doorway could be seen directly before them. Unfortunately, what they did not see was the ledge, broken away to the point where it would not hold all of them.
"Go!" Fili ordered, glancing behind them. Kili stepped through the opening, Tauriel having to catch him before he fell to the depths below. The elf shimmied over trying to make room and looked back into the open hall where light was enclosing on them and fast. "Fili, come on!" She huffed out, but the blonde prince was backing away, tears in his eyes as he watched her.
"Tell him, tell him about his uncle. Tell him I loved him even though I never got a chance to see him, to hold him. Tell him of how I will always be there with him even though he cannot see me." Kili was shaking his head, tears streaming down his eyes as he began to understand what his brother was doing. "Fi, don't be STUPID! Get out here." Fili only shook his head.
"Ki, you did not actually think we could all make it out of this did you? My precious baby brother, my dearest friend. It had been the greatest honor to stand beside you and watch you grow. You will make a fine king and a wonder father one day, brave, kind, and true. Watch out for him Tauriel. He needs you; you need each other. Never forget me, or that I love you both. I will be waiting in the great halls of Mandos for the day long in the future when we will be together once again, my most beloved brother, and sister."
"Fi, I need you too. I don't want to be king, I want you! Please. Please don't do this." Even as Kili pleaded, Fili was backing away. He was sacrificing himself for them. He had weighed his options and found this to be his best one, the only one. "Fili DON'T" Tauriel tried to reach out and grab him but Fili jumped from her and Kili pulled her from the visible opening just as a large shadow filled the hall.
"The eldest Durin brother. Grab him." Tauriel pulled her blades to turn to the opening but Kili grabbed her tight, slamming his hand over her mouth and securing his arm around her. If they moved, they would be seen and all three of them would be dead. Everything in him said to let her go, to go after his brother, to fight even if it meant their deaths but he hesitated and it was breaking him, tearing his heart and soul. His large hand splaying over her heaving stomach as he held her in place. It was no longer just the two of them sacrificing themselves, it would be three. If Azog ever found out she had the potential to be with child, the Gundabad orc would not hesitate nor would he stop at nothing to kill her and their child.
Thorin and Dwalin slaughtered goblin after goblin until all that was left were lifeless bodies littering the red and white spotted ground. "Thorin!" The dwarven king looked up to see Bilbo come out of nowhere "This is a trap. We need to go! An army of Gundabad orcs is on the march, to here!"
Thorin looked up at the tower then back at Dwalin "Go get Fili, Kili, and Tauriel. We are leaving." Thorin stopped, his mine echoing the words as they left his mouth "Live to fight another day." Each one said slowly. He has said those words before. If he has said those words before, then it could only mean their fate was sealed. They were making mistakes. His eyes followed the path from the bottom of the tower to the top and widened as the form of Azog slowly appeared...dragging Fili by the hair. What had he done? He sent them to their deaths. Where was Tauriel and Kili? Were they already dead?"
"This one dies first." The orc bellowed over the tower. "Then the brother." Thorin was helpless, he watched horrified as Azog lifted Fili high. "Then you will die last." He watched as Azog raised his blade to Fili who was screaming to Thorin to run. All at once, all the memories of Fili Thorin had filled his mind. Watching him learn how to walk, his puggy arms held by Vili's. Trying to tell him, at the young age of 5, still a babe in dwarfling terms, his father was never coming home. Watching as he held his brother for the first time, making sure to hold his head and proclaiming to the sleeping infant "Hi Ki, I am Fili but you can call me Fi. I will always be here for you. Okay?" The years of lessons, of learning to fight and Fili's instant love for knives and blades. The years of teaching Fili all Thorin's own father had taught him at the forge. Years of watching this blonde prince grow into himself and follow a path that would make him a far greater king than Thorin would ever hope himself to be. Tears fell from his eyes as he watched Azog hold his son over the edge of the tall tower.
Something glinting in the sun flew past his head, the burst of air around it grazing his face as what looked like a speeding arrow flew high to embed itself in Azogs hand just as he thrust his sword into Fili, causing the massive orc to yell out and drop Fili who fell hard to the ground below. Thorin whipped his head around to see Naurfaer lowering a bow, glaring darkly at the orc above.
Letting out a roar, Thorin screamed out for Kili and Tauriel, praying they were alive and raced towards the tower. Naurfaer threw the bow back to Legolas and pulled his blades, spinning them in each hand and stalked towards where Thorin was running to. If they killed his granddaughter, he will not stop until each and every one was killed, slowly.
Kili looked up to watch horrified what was happening above them, Tauriel struggling to free herself. He could feel her tears soaking his gloved hand. She would never forgive him for this, for not letting her fight. He would never forgive himself. The final chord in him broke when the body of his lifeless brother fell past them, landing on the soft snow just below them, turning the pure white to a stark red in seconds. Tauriel screamed through his hand and Kili held her as her knees buckled, nearly causing the two of them to slip from the ledge. No. He would never be the same. No. He was going to lose everything. No. They were not going to sit here and wait to die.
He loosed his hand from Tauriel, she spun from him instantly and was about to run through the door, before she looked into his clearly broken eyes. She slowly walked back to him and grazed his cheek softly "I love you. Kili." She had nothing more to say as he grasped her wrist and turned his head to place a lingering kiss on her palm. He let her hand go and pulled his sword. "For Fili." He said, his voice choking as he said his brother's name. "For Fili." She solemnly repeated as they ran into the tower to meet their own fate.
"What do you mean you sent them into the tower?" Thorin ignored the elf as he battled his way towards where he hoped Tauriel and Kili still lived. Let them be alive, he just wanted a glimpse to see that they are alive. Then he was going to grab them both and run. He was not losing another son, or his daughter today. If it meant not killing Azog, he would sacrifice that right for the chance to save his family, what was left of it. His family. Dis. She would not survive the loss of her children, nor would she ever forgive him for the loss of Fili. That was for tomorrow, today he needed to focus on saving what could be saved.
Thorin jumped over rubble and ran upstairs, Naurfaer splitting off and going up the side of the tower. He was too far to hear the yell and clash of steel as Thorin was shoved back by the creature he was hoping to escape.
Tauriel took the head off one of the large Gundabad orcs as Kili thrust his sword into another. They were larger, but at least there seemed to be less of them. One of the orcs got the better of the red-haired eleth and shoved her hard, causing her to fall over a short wall onto the rocky flat below. Tauriel tried to protect herself, rolling as she landed, but the wind had been knocked from her leaving her breathless on the stony ground. A shadow loomed above her and she blanched as she staired into the sneering face of Bolg. She watched as his eyes lowered from her face to where her hand instinctively had gone, the place her son grew.
"Well, well, well. Another is there? This one should be easy to rid, kill the elf-bitch, kill the Durin spawn." Tauriel rolled away just as his bladed mace landed hard on where she once stood. Unbidden, images of armor being pierced and all the light leaving Kili's eyes filled her head. That would not happen. Not this time. She lost her brother, she would not lose her Kili. Lifting her blade's she crouched low, the elf and orc circling each other in almost a dance. It was broken as Bolg jumped forward engaging Tauriel fully in battle.
Kili looked around, having felled another. His heart hammered in his chest when he realized his other half was not beside him. "Tauriel?"
"KILI!" Kili turned his head just in time to see Naurfaer sprint up the stairs, his large, double edged blade covered in blood and his red hair flying in all directions. "It is good to see you, but where is Tauriel?" Kili looked franticly around. She had just been right beside him, where did she go?
"KILI!" The sound would haunt his mind forever as he twisted hard in the direction Tauriel had screamed his name. He ran to the ledge, sensing Naurfaer beside him and watched in terror as an orc bigger than any he had seen thrust Tauriel up against the stone wall, his blade pressed into her belly. Naurfaer cursed beside him and broke his blade apart, one blade turning to two. He looked down at Kili and the two nodded as they both flew over the wall at the orc, Kili landing hard on the ground as Naurfaer shoved his blades hard into the orcs back on his way down.
The surprise worked, Bolg dropped Tauriel with a yell, where she fell to the ground. Naurfaer drew the orc into battle, having had pulled his blades from the orcs spine and lunged at him. This gave Kili a chance to dive to Tauriel, sliding on his knees as he reached her crumpled form. "Tauriel!? Amralime? Speak to me love!" He ran his hands all over her and rolled her to see the hole in where he held his blade, right over her flat stomach. "No." He silently prayed. Not this. Not after losing Fi. Anything but this. He pushed the cut tunic aside and let out a sigh of relief. "Mithril. Thank Mahal for mithril." He ran his hands back up to her face as she began to stir. "Kili?"
"Shhh. Rest a moment." He looked over his shoulder, Naurfaer seemed to be holding Bolg back but he looked as if he would need assistance and soon. He felt before he saw Tauriel rise to her feet. He lifted his eyes to her and pushed himself to stand beside her just as Naurfaer was shoved back and hard, lading just beside them.
"Are you alright?" He quickly called to Tauriel who nodded and flashed her swords. Bolg had shaken her daggers from her before Kili and Naurfaer came over the wall so she pulled her twin blades from her back, Bolg watching the light reflect off them as he looked between the three.
Kili lifted his own blade in a standoff, three to one. The moment, frozen in time broke the second Kili let out a glutaral yell and lunged his sword at Bolg, Tauriel and Naurfaer instantly joining. No matter how hard they hit him, how much damage they were doing, nothing was felling this monster. Tauriel was panting, breaths leaving her in great gasps as she tried once again, in vain, to thrust her sword anywhere that would kill this orc. He swung his arm, Tauriel ducking just in time but Naurfaer paying the price as his blades where knocked from his hand and he was flung towards the wall, hitting it hard. Another swing of his mace had Tauriel jumping, back, the orc taking advantage and twisting around to lift the eleth and throw her against a stone. She felt the crack in her wrist as she attempted to catch herself, the bone was broken, of that she was sure.
All the breath left her when she looked up, however, and her world shattered. In her distracted state, she had missed Bolg get the better of Kili. He held her prince hard in his grasp, his brown eyes turned to her apologetically as the orc lifted his mace, blade facing Kili. "Don't worry, elf-bitch. You are next." His arm made its move to plunge the mace heavily onto Kili's chest, Tauriel closing her eyes and waiting for the sound of piercing metals but all she heard was a gasp, and gurgling as if someone was trying to take a breath followed by a the sound of something heavy fall to the ground. She was not sure she wanted to see what may be in front of her, but her eyes flew open on their own accord.
Bolg's massive mace lay on the ground as its wielder grasped at its own neck where a blade's hilt could be seen protruded from just behind Bolgs large hands. Black blood oozed from between his fingers as the being teetered and fell to the ground, chest heaving before it stilled. Naurfaer strode up to the beast and pulled his blade from the creatures neck. "Never. Ever. Threaten my family." He wiped the blade on Bolg and turned to his family on the ground.
"KILI!" Tauriel crawled on her hands and knees over to her still husband, too still. Was she too late? She cannot lose him, not her Kili, it would mean both their lives, and their child if he gave into death. Bolgs blade had landed over Kili, which seemed to be the source of the head wound openly bleeding down his face and onto the snow. "Kili? Please wake up meleth nin. Please." She pressed her forehead to his, tears dropping from her cheeks onto his own. "Tauriel?" The elf let out a laugh. He was alright! Before he could open his eyes Tauriel slammed her lips to his in a bruising kiss. Kili immediately, if not a little weakly, kissed back.
A thump on the ground feet from them broke the two apart. Thinking it to be another Gundabad orc, Tauriel jumped to her feet, ignoring the pain that ripped through her wrist and arm. She had no weapon but that did not mean she was without fight. She had survived orcs. She had survived goblins and trolls. She had survived watching her brother fall just in front of her. She had survived Bolg. She was going to survive anything that flew at her. Her heart eased, however, when it ended up only being Legolas who looked to the eleth with concern.
"Mellon! You need aid Tauriel!" Kili slowly rose to his feet and took her in. She was cradling her arm close to her chest. She shook her head though. "We need to find Thorin." Kili walked towards his elf and reached his hand up to take the wrist she held close to herself. At first, she refused to allow him to reach her, but one look into his hurt eyes and she gave in, lowering her hand to his. Kili may be powerful, but when necessary, he was the gentlest dwarrow she had ever met. His hands slowly looking over the bruising of the skin and seeing the evidence of the fracture just under the surface. Kili growled. "Tauriel, he is right. You need to get help. This is broken, or fractured at the very least. You cannot fight with this amralime. You would be putting yourself at more risk if you do."
Tauriel again shook her head. "We find Thorin and then I will seek help." Naurfaer rolled his eyes. "Of course." He bit out. "Not like you both nearly just died, why not go into another situation where imminent death is involved, and with an unusable wrist too. Great idea. Why did I not think of that? Oh right, because that idea is as stupid as a troll in heat. You obviously get that from your father as I never raised your mother do be so thick headed."
Tauriel glared at Naurfaer. A yell tore them from whatever was about to be said next and Tauriel grabbed one of her blades and began running. Naurfaer, Kili, and Legolas calling after her as she ran. They all stopped short when they watched an orc looming over Thorin about to land the killing blow. "UNCLE!" Kili screamed. Out of the corner of her eye, Tauriel saw Legolas pull the blade Thorin had found in the troll horde what felt like a lifetime ago. He gave the blade one glance then thrust it through the air, sailing perfectly and embedding itself straight into the chest of the creature over Thorin. Thorin pulled the blade just as the creature fell over the frozen waterfall and he disappeared from sight.
The three elves and dwarven prince ran, Kili glancing at Tauriel who looked as if she was ignoring any pain she was in in lieu of getting to Thorin and fast. It took an eternity to get to the top, Naurfaer helping Tauriel over the crest, the only indication she was injured was a slight gasp as her wrist was jostled, otherwise, she stood tall and looked as if she was ready to take more out to get to her goal. She could see Thorin, and her heart stopped. He held the blade sideways, struggling to keep Azog's bladed arm from piercing his heart.
"NO!" Kili's call had Thorin turning his blue eyes to his nephew as Azog lifted his own to see the four enter the solidly frozen waters. Thorin's heart filled. He lived, Kili and Tauriel lived. It would be alright. Their line would live on through them, already doing so through the son of Durin Tauriel carried. He could rest knowing they would be safe if he could take this scourge out once and for all. Giving a kick to his knee Thorin took advantage of Azog stumbling slightly back, the pressure of his bladed arm easing slightly as he pulled his own blade away. As he thought would happen, Azog did not hesitate to plunge his weapon deep into Thorin who thrust his elvish blade up into Azog, twisting it and listening in satisfaction as a gasp left the creatures mouth before it fell back to lie still and silent on the cracking ice.
"THORIN!" Tauriel and Kili ran, both sliding to meet the dwarven king who was trying to stand. "No, no don't move. Stay still." Thorin tried to waive them off but gave into letting Kili help him off the ice so he could look over the lands below. With Azog gone, the battle below was diminishing. They had won. At a high cost. They had won.
Thorin fell hard to his knees, taking Kili with him. "UNCLE! Stay still! Hang on." Dwalin ran into the clearing followed closely by Bilbo "Dwalin! Go get help! Get Gandalf, get anyone! Quickly!" Kili placed a hand over Thorin's wound. It was not in his chest, but it had hit his lower abdomen, the hole bleeding out onto the ground around them. "Stay, uncle. Stay." Kili's sobs broke through Thorin's fog and he turned his blue eyes to his nephew's brown ones.
"Kili. Stay strong my son. The people will need you…to be strong." Thorin coughed hard, wincing. "I cannot lose you uncle, not after losing…" He was not ready to say his name, not too close to losing another member of his family.
"My time has come my child. I think this was how it was meant to be." Thorin lifted his hand to Kili's face, Kili placing his own hand over where Thorin's rested. "No uncle. Don't believe that. You are stronger than this, you just need to hold on." He was shaking his head, clinging to his uncle's hand over his cheek. Thorin turned his head to Tauriel. "I want to thank you for everything you have taught me, and for the greatest gift I could ever have. A daughter. I should have listened to Dis. I should have realized sooner that what we had in Ered Luin was far greater of a treasure than any depths of gold, jewels, or stone walls. Birthright or no. My only regret is that I could not hold my grandchild or see the mother you will be." He lifted his free hand weakly, Tauriel grasping it in hers and pulling it towards her abdomen, resting it there. Thorin looked up to see Bilbo crouching beside him and gave him a smile, then gave a quick glance to Naurfaer and Legolas who were giving them space to say goodbye. Thorin let his eyes fall back onto where Tauriel held his hand. "Hello little one. I wish to depart these lands with one of the greatest lessons I could give. Love. Cherish family as your greatest treasure, for everything else is replaceable." Tauriel fell forward the same time as Kili, both burying their faces in Thorin's shoulder, he released both their hands to slowly slide them round each of their shaking forms, holding them as close and tightly as his weakening form could allow.
Still holding his children close, he turned to his newest friend, the hobbit who stayed by his side their entire adventure and never once gave up on him, despite how ill he had treated him. "Thank you, my friend for all you have done. If more people valued home and family over gold, this world would be a merrier place." The words did not quite echo in his mind as he felt they should, but he could not keep the idea family out so it easily fell from his lips adding to the ghost of what he said the first time. He may have failed Fili, and himself, but the warm forms in his arms are proof they in fact have won.
"Thorin you're going to be okay. We are getting help." A sound caused the hobbit to lift his head skyward. The eagles had come! It was over! "LOOK THORIN! The eagles! See. We are all going to be okay."
Tauriel lifted her head the moment she felt the person, who was her father in all ways but blood, loosen his grip on her. She felt as his hand slid from her back to fall limp beside her. "Thorin? 'Adad?" She looked down, her eyes wide and filled with tears. Kili echoing her sentiments placing his hand on Thorin's face "Don't go da, please. I am not ready. Please don't leave." He was pleading but Thorin was not responding. Tauriel started when a hand fell to her shoulder. In her grief she had not sensed the elven king come up behind her. She was expecting his cold, distant, look and knew what would come from his harsh lips. What she did not expect was the look of sympathy as he knelt down beside her looking between her and the dwarven king.
"Save him. Please. I will not ask you for anything more. I need him." Thranduil's blue eyes pierced her green ones. "You love him." She nodded. "I do not pretend to understand it. When I found out about you with the dwarves, I believe it to be for power or to hurt me in some way. Side with the enemy in retaliation for how I sentenced you. What I was blind to see was the obvious love you have for these people. A love I have never seen you have for your own. It truly is real." Tauriel watched him, her eyes pleading. She felt another presence and looked up to see Naurfaer looming over them, ready to step in should Thranduil try to harm her. The elven king was not blind to this either and gave him a disarming look. The red headed elf relaxed, if only slightly, but did not move.
"You believe this dwarf to be your father?" His words were not cold, but calculating. As if measuring her up.
"I know him to be." She looked down at Thorin, his body still. She felt pressure on her shoulder and lifted her head. Thranduil was pushing her gently out of the way. She gave him a questioning look. "I need space."
Tauriel jumped to her feet ignoring the pain it caused her wrist and backed away. Kili glared at the elven king at first then looking to Tauriel he seemed to catch on and slid back on his knees to allow the elf room to do whatever he was going to do.
All watched as the Thranduil placed his hands over the gaping wound on Thorin's abdomen and began to chant something similar to what Tauriel had said over Kili's still form. This prayer was slightly different and radiated powerfully through the air. Tauriel felt an arm wrap around her, but refused to look away, afraid if she did, Thranduil will give up and Thorin would be lost. A glow formed from Thranduil's hand, glowing brighter the harder he worked, though his voice not once raised from its gentle whisper.
Mesmerized, they stared until Thranduil sat back and reverently stood. All afraid to ask. "He will yet live." Kili choked out a sob as Bilbo cheered. Unable to stop herself, Tauriel placed her arms, good and fractured around the elven king, who was completely taken aback from the affection he was not accustomed too. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. What you have done, I can never say thank you enough." He raised his hands and returned the embrace before pulling away and watching as she fell to her knees beside Kili.
"Thorin?" Dain followed by Dwalin, Gandalf, and several other dwarrows raced over the hill.
"He needs to be taken to a healing tent, but his wounds are no longer life threatening. Some rest will be all he needs. He has other wounds that need tending and assessment as do many others." Thranduil looked down at Tauriel who was leaning hard against Kili who had his arm wrapped tightly around her taking care to not jostle the wrist she was once again cradling to her chest. "That may need to be set." She nodded and accepted a long strip of cloth from Dwalin, Kili helping her secure it around her form and keep her arm in place until someone could take a look at it.
Dain ordered a cart be brought up to get Thorin. "Fili." Kili's broke voice barely stood above a whisper but it pierced the air as if it was a roar.
"We will get him lad."
"NO!" Kili snapped his head up to Dwalin who was looking sadly at him. "No." He repeated quietly. "I will do it. It is my right and my duty." Dwalin watched him carefully then nodded. Tauriel rose to her feet, Kili just behind her. "Amralime, I will meet you down at valley."
"You certainly will not. Kili, let me do this with you. Let me share this burden." Kili nodded slowly and the pair made their way away from the group. Naurfaer went to follow but Dwalin stopped him. "We will meet them at the cart. They will want to say goodbye." Naurfaer watched them leave. He was new to the company and the family, but he already felt keenly the loss as well as the hole the blonde prince would leave in his absence. Naurfaer himself already missed his teasing but kind demeaner. There was no one like him, an older brother to all, who loved as hard as his heart was soft.
Tauriel did not say a word as she walked side by side with Kili. She was mentally preparing herself for the sight of Fili's still form. Just as in her nightmarish vision, ravens flew high overhead, but instead of menacing calls they were all soaring and landing around where the crowned prince lay. Each landing and staring down on him as he lay still at the bottom, quiet and immovable as the stone around him.
Kili kneeled down beside his older brother. "Oh, Fi. Why did you have to do that." Kili looked up at Tauriel. His eyes so lost, so broken. She took her place as always right beside him as she lowered herself to the ground.
"We give a last goodbye to our kin when they have fallen. I did not think it would be something I would have to teach you anytime soon." Tauriel listened, lending comfort by merely being there. When silence stretched on Tauriel thought she would start.
"I will never forget the moment we actually met, not in this plane, but up in Valinor when you lifted me from the ground and spun me in the air. My first impression of you was instantly believing you to be nothing but trouble. Time and time again you proved me right, and yet, even more so you proved me unbelievably wrong. Trouble you may be, but your kindness, love, and ability to ground all those around you are without equal. You became more than just a dwarrow, more than just a crowned prince, even more than just a friend. Through and through, you become one my heart fully embraced as my brother. I will always love you my dearest nadduna. (Brother). Fare well Fili, till we meet again." She placed a kiss on the crown of his head and sat back, eyes furrowing, but lifting to meet Kili who let out a heavy breath.
"Fi, I do not even know where to start. How do I even begin to say goodbye to the one who spent his entire life looking after me? Following me into whatever schemes I came up with even knowing we will get caught. You, taking Thorin's wrath beside me each and every time. You gifted me Maryn, having saved your gold for an entire year to buy her when you found out I wanted her. That old hardstick Hildon refusing to sell her for a reasonable price. It was years later I found out that he not only took every gold coin you saved, but…" Kili wiped his sleeve over his face, trying to clear the tears that were falling freely "but you worked his stables for an entire year after just to procure her. I know how much you hate working stables but for me, you did not even hesitate or complain once. Fili, I cannot do this. I cannot be here without you. Who is supposed to stand beside me when I hold my child for the first time? How do I step into your boots? I never wanted to be a king I only wanted to be a kings brother."
Kili looked down at Fili's peaceful face "I will tell my son everything of you. He will hear stories nightly about his brave uncle who saved us all. Songs will be sung of you great honor, but none will come close to portraying the loss I feel knowing you will never again be beside me." Kili closed his eyes. He did not want to be doing this, not now. He was supposed to be old and grey, great great granddwarflings running around as he made his farewell knowing he would be following soon. Not here, both in the prime of their young lives. "Fili, I promise to try to live up to you. To have your strength and insight." Kili smiled down at his brother "You will never be forgotten Fili, not for one moment. Not your strength. Not your wisdom. Not your kindness." Closing his eyes he leaned his forehead against Fili's warm one. "Farewell my beloved brother. May you find rest in Mandos halls."
"You forgot to say handsome." Kili sat straight up and stared down at Fili who sat stone still. He was losing it already. Fili had been gone for not even a day and Kili had lost his senses completely. He looked up at Tauriel to see her staring in shock at the blonde prince, his figure completely still.
"Fi?" Kili leaned over Fili pleading to the Valar, Mahal, Manwe anyone who would listen. Let them have this last miracle and he will ask of nothing else for the rest of his days. "I cannot find rest until you accept my beauty as one of my prime features." Kili sobbed out a laugh when Fili finally opened his blue eyes. "Hey baby brother."
"FILI YOUR ALIVE!?" Tauriel sat with tears streaming down her face and a large smile breaking out across her lips as she watched the joy engulf her Kili. They lived, they all did it, they had won.
"How could I not, seeing how you said such nice things about me." Kili burst into laughter. It would be his brother who would remain silent to hear what others said about him during the last goodbye. He was glad it was not Thorin though, as he is pretty sure the shock would stop their uncle's heart.
Fili went to move but groaned and remained still. "Do not move Fili, you are wounded." The blonde prince huffed and took her advice.
"You don't have to tell me. What happened to your arm?" Tauriel looked from her wrist strapped to her chest and back to Fili "Bolg." She grumbled before telling him she would fill him in later. He sighed but said no more. Tauriel did not want to leave them but they needed help. Looking up, she caught sight once again of the ravens overhead. She stood, calling one down to her, the brothers watching her questioningly before understanding dawning on their faces.
"Kili, have you got a coin or anything?" Kili pulled a small gem from his inner pocket, it was meant to be for a gift he was making her, but he will find another. This was a much more pressing matter. Tauriel took the gem and allowed the large black bird to take it from her hand gently. She gave it the message "Fili is alive. Come quick." It was easy enough for the bird to relay and she turned back to her little world.
Bofur and Bombur were guiding the rams pulling the cart with Thorin in the back with Balin and Dwalin beside the king, the two elves walking beside the cart with the two horses trailing behind. Everyone else, including Dain had gone down to help begin clean-up and prepare the valley for the healing stations Thranduil was promising. There was much to do.
None had seen Tauriel or Kili since they left and all were giving them the space and time they needed to do the last rights, to say the last goodbye. "Perhaps yeh should go ahead laddie. Thorin needs tending. We can help Kili with Fili when they are ready." Bofur gave one last look over to where he was told they were and nodded at Balin, about to give a tug of the reins when a raven landed on one of the ram's large horns. The animal giving an annoyed grunt but otherwise stood still, stamping its hoof into the ground.
"Princeling is alive. Fly with haste." All sat staring at the bird who was watching them before taking off in the direction it came after Bombur tossed it a small piece of bread he had in his pocket. "Alive?" Bombur wondered out loud. "We know Kili is alive. Why would it be sayin' tha'?"
"FILI!" They all shouted, jumping into action. Naurfaer and Legolas ran as Bofur tried to guide the cart to the closest spot it could go and remained waiting impatiently for them to return with hopefully, an alive Fili.
The small group was easy to spot and Balin, despite his age, jumped in the air when he saw Fili's blue eyes open and clear as they ran up to them. "HAHA! It is TRUE laddie! Mahal be praised!" Fili smiled at Balin and Dwalin, who was reverently muttering "Well, by my beard lad. Welcome back."
"He is greatly injured, we must be careful as we move him. To be honest, I do not even know how he is conscious let alone living, but I will be grateful for both." Tauriel gave Fili another wide grin.
"Can you move at all?" Fili looked up at Naurfaer and tried shifting, managing to move both his legs. "That is it, easy goes it." They surrounded Fili the best they could and each helped him until his arms were wrapped firmly around his brother and Dwalin. Both taking the majority of his weight, Fili going white, sweat beading his forehead as the pain took over. From just behind him Tauriel could see where the knife pierced him, not even inches from his spine and in an area where no major organs should be. Fili was lucky. Very, very lucky. He will need stitching, and he will no doubt be sore for many days but with rest and nourishment, Fili will make a full recovery.
There was a second round of cheers when they reached the cart, Fili all but collapsing beside Thorin. "No!" He began but Kili stopped him "He is just resting Fi, Thranduil saved his life, he will recover as will you." Fili looked down at his uncle from his place leaning heavily on Kili and gave a curt nod.
"Fili?" All eyes turned to the croaking voice coming from below them. "I am here uncle."
"How..how…I do not understand. I watched."
"His pride and complete lack of humility kept him alive." Tauriel deadpanned Fili gave her a mocked hurt look "What a thing to say Tauri, after all those nice words you said about me?"
"They were all in your head, figments of your imagination, hallucinations brought on by pain. Not farfetched, knowing your ego." Fili glared playfully at her, sticking his tongue out before cringing as a spike of pain shot down his back turning her playful tease into a concerned look which Fili waived off as he tried to get comfortable on the bumping cart. Balin gave him an apologetic look which went unseen by the prince who sat with his eyes closed looking as if he was trying not to be sick.
Thorin said little more, slipping in and out of consciousness, his eyes firmly shut. Tauriel looked from face to face of all in their group, landing on Thorin before moving to Fili. They had done it. It was over. They were all alive. All that was left now, was to begin the long road of healing. She looked at Kili his eyes shining with happiness at knowing his uncle and his brother lived. She leaned down and let her lips fall on his, Kili instantly responding with a soft hum.
"Come on…can't that wait until I am not inches from you both?" Fili whined. Tauriel chuckled as Kili responded "You said we could do whatever we liked once we survived in celebration. I am celebrating." He pulled Tauriel back to his lips, deepening the kiss as Fili let out a loud protest and Dwalin reminded him "Yeh did say that." Fili sputtering as he muttered something along the lines of 'Dwalin the betrayer'.
"Now I know he's alive." Thorin grumbled. The cart filled with laughter as they made their way down Ravenhill to the valley below.
Authors Note: See. Told you to trust me. All is well on the Durin front. I have the last chapter all finished and ready to proof so I will try and put that up tomorrow. WHOOH battles are not easy to write, might I say, but hopefully I did it all justice. I will see ya tomorrow-ish.