Kili

The company and some of the people of the town were led into the large home. The man of the town, the Master they called him, settled us down in the dining room. All of the table and chairs were of course too large for us, but we made do by sitting on books and other items provided for us.

Soon the room was filled with food and ale. Each of the dwarves were indulging themselves in the supplied drinks and morsels. The room was very warm though it did not ease the chill in my bones. "Durin's day is in nine days," Fili murmured quietly from the end of the table we were sitting at. Laurel was once more perched on my lap, toying idly with the courting braid in her hair. The sight brought warmth to my heart.

"I don't fully understand what is going on I suppose," she muttered.

"Uncle was given a key to open a hidden door on the mountain," Fili supplied easily, "during the light of Durin's day is only when the door will be visible. Then, and only then, will we be able to enter the mountain without the beast that lies within knowing."

Her lips pursed together tightly as her eyes still combed the festivities. "What then? Slay a dragon when it sneaks upon us?"

"It slumbers in its horde of gold," I laughed softly.

Pine green eyes widened in astonishment, "Hasn't anyone ever told you lot not to poke the sleeping dragon?"

Together my brother and I smirked, a few chuckles leaving our lips in amusement. Of course we knew not to wake a sleeping beast. Honestly I did not know the true intentions of what was to happen once we got to the mountain. Master Baggins was acquired so that we could have him retrieve the Arkenstone, the Heart of the Mountain. Once Thorin had the stone, I knew not what would actually transpire. How were we to actually kill Smaug once we gained entrance to the mountain?

Soon Laurel rose to get food, leaving Fili and I alone.

"You have gone about this all differently than you should have," he spoke as soon as she was gone. It was one of a few moments that were actually alone. Usually Laurel was with us.

"Things are different in her world. Suitors usually make the first advance. Some women ask their suitors to court, but those are far and few between. Laurel is not the type for it though, she prefers for the suitors to do the asking and courting," I sighed, watching as she worked her way across the room to talk to each of the company members. Dwarrowdams were meant to initiate courting. Not the dwarves.

"She accepted the braid, but does she accept the courting completely? I know you mentioned you were having difficulty with her," he asked.

It was true, even if she accepted the braid I did feel as if she was still holding back. There were times where I could see the spark in her eye, the same spark that burned deep in my stomach when I looked at her. Other times she looked upon me with sorrow and guilt. The messages I saw were hot and cold and passionate and disdained. It did not make much sense at all.

The pain in my thigh flared fiercely for a moment, bringing a gasp softly to my lips as I clutched at it. "I am not sure. She seems to have not changed much at all on the subject, I still see the battle in her when she looks at me," I tore out. "Why is it not easy?"

Fili laughed full-heartedly, "Because you love her! All the other maidens were meaningless. If they did not fall for your charm, you moved onto the next one. Laurel is fighting you and you will not move on because you love her brother! I have not seen you look so struck before!"

Of course I loved her. There was no question on it.

"The jealousy was on her face when we were in Mirkwood," Fili murmured as he tried to remain silent.

"I would not doubt it," I muttered, "Tauriel has not given up on trying to obtain me as one of her playthings."

"Laurel was more concerned with her likeness of face."

"There is a reason for that," I groaned remembering the day I came across Tauriel in the pub.

It was about three years ago when I woke in the morning with a need that could not be met. Laurel haunted my dreams once more, though this time she was covered but in thin fabric that left nothing to the imagination on to what was under it. She was sprawled out across the sand on a cloth in the broad sunlight. Eventually she traveled into the water to swim idly. The water cascaded down her form and caressed her curves beautifully.

It was a very good image, but waking with it in my mind had me frustrated. It was only then that I discovered my attraction of her, but I felt ashamed and unfulfilled at the same time. That day I hunted until sundown only to come across nothing. To end the miserable night I ended up in the Gilded Ghoul with a tankard of ale to keep me company.

Tauriel entered the building with an air about her. Instantly I saw the beauty of the elf. At first the resemblance did not meet me. Instead I was struck by her perfectly sculpted face and the breath of her bosom. I was amazed how she sought me out to drink and talk with me. Soon our words became bold and I invited her back to my home for a more private conversation. We both had drank too much, and evidently were too loud trying to sneak into my room.

The elf maiden was taken with me and kissing me with earnest. Together we were tangled in my sheets, her body completely nude under me, my own still trying to catch up.

"Oh Kili," she whimpered when my lips attached to her breast.

"Mmmm, yes Laurel," I replied.

The elf didn't hear the difference in name, since it was so similar, but immediately I knew my mistake. When my eyes opened I realized everything that had transpired. She looked like a spitting image of my Laurel, almost. There were differences, but I had picked her just for her similarities to my human girl I had fallen for. That is when my door burst open to reveal Thorin.

"That elven maiden I brought home when Thorin burst in was Tauriel, I self-consciously chose her because of her similarity to Laurel," I muttered. "She is upset thinking I chose her because she looked like Tauriel."

Once more I amused my brother more than I should have. He clapped me on the back. The heat finally started to become too much for me to take, so I rose to retreat outside for the freshness of air.

The limp I walked with gave me away to my green eyed beauty, for she followed me the moment the night air brushed my skin. "Are you alright," she asked, hand touching the width of my back.

We walked a distance as the snow fell softly around us.

"I will survive," I breathed deeply through the pain. Once we came to the dock I settled down onto the wooden surface to gaze over the lake. Just on the other side was the mountain we dreamed about for years. The cold night air cooled my skin slightly.

"We are almost there," I grabbed her hand and held it tight as my thigh throbbed, "almost home."

I could hear the hesitation in her voice as she paused before speaking, "Kili, Thorin may like me more now than before, but I was not given permission to live in the Lonely Mountain. I was only told I could come and go as I please."

"That is nonsense," I pulled her closer, "you have nowhere else to go."

"I will go stay with Bilbo as I was told," she murmured, "I already talked it over with him just moments ago."

Rage suddenly filled me to the brim. Why was it battle after battle with this woman? Did she not truly care for me as much as I cared for her? My hand snatched away from her own. "What of us? The Shire is almost one full moon's journey. It would be nearly impossible for us to be together," I muttered.

I jumped up and hissed as pain ripped through my thigh, feet thundering as I stomped down the dock. "Kili! Come back," she called after me.

"Why? I have fought hard for you to remain by my side, and you are going to deny me even still? How is that just to me? How is that what I deserve for everything that I have done," I roared. Soon we were toe to toe, her face gazing up at me with more than guilt. Her trembling hands rose to grasp at my face.

Suddenly I was weak and could no longer hold myself up. The ache and pain in my leg became so unbearable I crumpled to the ground I walked upon.

"Kili!"

Soft delicate fingers traced my face and nose, holding me close to her. "You're sick." My eyes closed heavily. When they opened again her face and that of Fili's were staring down at me.

With tugging and pulling I was dragged by my older brother. The heat was burning me alive, the lushness of my skin was hot to touch. The weakness that held me was terrifying. Was this what it felt like to die? Never before have I felt such a dread in my core, one that had breath hard to find.

Laurel was banging on a door. When Bard's face appeared as seen us, he snarled in our faces.

"No! I am done with dwarves!"

Just as the door was attempted to be shut, Laurel put her boot between the frame and the door, slamming her palm against the wood, "Good thing I'm not a dwarf Mister Bard!"

They stared at one another for a long moment before she whispered just loud enough to hear, "He is sick, and we need help. We have no one else we can get that from but you."

Slowly the door opened as we crossed the threshold.