Legolas stood in the brisk frozen wind on the edge of the ice flow watching as Tauriel jumped and leaped as she fled from the scene where Kíli had been killed. A small tear slipped over his eyelid as he tried to rein in the emotions he felt as she fled. He had deep feelings for the elf, the elf he knew his Father would never accept to be his mate. He wasn't sure if her frustrations of not being able to be his caused her to turn to the dwarf or if there had truly been deep feelings between them.
The single tear fell off his face turning to ice in that brisk air as it fell. As the tiny particle of ice struck the frozen ground beneath Legolas's feet his highly sensitive ears heard something.
He spun even as he notched an arrow to his bow and aimed. His eyes opened wide when he saw a frosted breath exhaled from the handsome dwarf. Legolas couldn't believe the sound he heard had been Kíli's exhaling breath. Kíli laid on the frozen ground perhaps twenty feet from Legolas. The freezing cold around him had both hurt and helped him.
Kíli took in a gasping breath as Legolas screamed out, "Tauriel!"
Legolas closed the distance with but a single leap. His bow and arrow dropped to the frozen ground as he fell to his knees. Legolas's left hand dug down into the packed snow and scooped out a large handful and shoved it into the mortal wound in Kíli's torso.
His eyes closed even as Kíli's opened at the additional pain. Legolas began speaking in a language that was a mystery to Kíli. Not that he had the strength to question it, the strain of keeping his eyes open overwhelmed him and he allowed them to close. And then she was there.
Tauriel's weapons fell as she cried out rushing forwards. She fell to the ground next to Kíli as she reached him. Her right hand grasped Kíli's right hand even as her left hand rose up to cup his cheek. Tears ran down her cheeks and Kíli's eyes opened and he smiled seeing her there beside him.
"I thought I lost you." Kíli said weakly.
"I'm sorry. I was so stupid to not consider, to believe you were beyond help." Tauriel whispered as her lips pressed against his cheek.
*I need your help.* Legolas's voice came to her in Elven.
Tauriel looked over and saw the energies he was wielding fading. Tauriel's eyes closed as she connected to she who was Estë. The Ainu goddess of healing. The waning magic of Legolas was suddenly amplified a hundred fold. Kíli took in a deep breath as his mind opened and he saw an Elven beauty. She stood between his feet. She smiled down at him as she bent forward placing a hand on the backs of both of the elves bent over him. He saw golden energies about her hands. That energy washed into both Legolas and Tauriel and through them into himself.
Kíli awakened within a ruined building. There was enough patchwork keeping the cold at bay with the large fire in what remained of a fireplace. His right hand felt over warm and he looked and saw the auburn hair of a woman laying over his right arm. The colors, the scent told him who she was.
*Tauriel, love.* Kíli said surprisingly in Elvish.
Tauriel's head came up at the sound looking for who spoke to her, but to her amazement found Kíli lying there smiling at her.
"Kíli, love." Tauriel said in common before she moved and fell over him. She had given up on any pretense. She didn't care how any elf or dwarf would view her, she loved Kíli and she would no longer hide her heart. Their lips met fiercely. The kiss remained polite for a moment and then their tongues pushed past their lips and caressed the other's tongue.
"What happened?" Kíli asked as they parted.
"So much. You should rest more and gather more strength. You will need it in the days to come." Tauriel told him sadly.
"Please." Kíli asked softly.
"The days have been long and hard my love. So much has happened." Tauriel tried to obfuscate.
"Thorin…" Kíli said weakly.
Tauriel shook her head.
"I am sorry love. While Thorin managed to end Azog's threat he was nonetheless delivered a mortal blow by the fiend. Bilbo has been waiting to speak with you." Tauriel told him softly.
Kíli struggled with the words but finally nodded.
Tauriel kissed him gently before standing up. She stepped over to the door and opened it. Instantly dozens of dwarves stood up in anticipation.
"Bilbo, he is awakened." Tauriel called out into the air inside the ruined town of Dale. She smiled briefly at the small horde of dwarves but just closed the door.
She sat back down and took Kíli's hand in hers and they spent the next five minutes staring at each other. There was a brief knock upon the door.
"Enter." Kíli said even as he almost choked upon the word.
The door opened and Bilbo stepped into the room and closed the door firmly behind him.
"How are you feeling?" Bilbo asked in a cheerful voice as he stepped closer.
Kíli gave him a sad smile.
"I'm glad to know you are still with us master burglar." Kíli joked with him.
Bilbo laughed at the joke.
"I was asked to give you something." Bilbo told him. Bilbo swallowed hard as he reached into a bag on his hip. He pulled out the gleaming gem they all knew well. The Arkenstone. Kíli stared at the gem as thousands of questions ran through his mind. Not the least of which was why it was in his possession. He watched as Bilbo reached it out and placed it on his chest. Next to his left hand as it lay there. His fingers opened reluctantly but grasped at the stone and pulled it slowly into his grip.
"So, I lost both my uncle and brother." Kíli said. "Since I had been spared I had hoped Fili had too."
"You are now the King under the Mountain." Tauriel told him.
Slowly Kíli remembered his older brother Fili falling. How he tried to aid his love and then being stabbed.
"Thorin wanted you to know that with you he rests comfortably knowing your good heart will be leading your people and these lands in the years to come." Bilbo told him.
"I don't think I want it." Kíli told them.
"Why my heart?" Tauriel asked.
"My heart says it needs you. My people would never abide such a union." Kíli told her.
"As does mine, for you." Tauriel smiled down at him.
"The good thing is, as King under the Mountain, what you say goes." Bilbo grinned at the couple. "So if you say your relationship is law, it is law." Bilbo said as he poked the Arkenstone in Kíli's hand.
It was five days later that Kíli first stepped foot out the door of the ruin he lay in. It might have been sooner had people let him rest a few days but he constantly had Dáin and other dwarven leaders coming for council. Even Bard and Thranduil came to visit trying to gauge if he would honor past pledges. He promised to make his announcement once he was upon the throne under the Mountain. He took counsel and friendship many times with Bilbo and Gandalf. Tauriel remained by his side at all times.
Tauriel and Bilbo both walked with him. Tauriel a half step back on his left and Bilbo three steps back on his right. Gandalf, Thranduil, Dáin and Bard followed behind them. The entire path to the mountain was lined with friends and allies alike. Dwarves, humans and elves, all of which made gestures of respect by bowing as Kíli passed.
Dáin's warriors had guarded the entrance to the Mountain. Many of them had worked hard inside since the battle, gathering and sorting the treasures within.
Kíli reached the throne and as everyone watched, secured the Arkenstone back into its home above the throne. Kíli took a deep breath and then turned and sat down on the throne. Everyone took a knee before him and he shook his head as he pulled against Tauriel's hand. She reluctantly stood up straight next to the throne with him.
"Master Bilbo, you have done much and from you the throne needs no outward expression of loyalty. Please, stand here beside my love." Kíli told him.
Bilbo had started to protest but Gandalf shook his head at him and so Bilbo stood and stepped to the outside of Tauriel.
Kíli looked at Bofur and made a gesture. Bofur nodded and moved off to a side chamber.
"Time has come for rights to be made. For too long has the greed of my forebears marred these lands. Thranduil, please step forward." Kíli said.
Thranduil rose up and stepped forward before the throne.
"With these I wish to see peace and harmony once more between our peoples. Let both of our words go forth and that everyone of our peoples grow to respect each other. Let no outside force divide us." Kíli said as he extended his hand to Thranduil.
Thranduil eyed his hand but also saw Bofur moving back with a chest he knew all too well.
"I willingly grasp your hand in mutual friendship. I rejoice in what we were able to accomplish together. Even if our people first clashed on these hills, we were able to come together and push back the armies of darkness. It will forever be my honor to call you brother." Thranduil told him with a grand voice as they shook hands.
Kíli reached over and opened the chest and all the white gems of Lasgalen gleamed in the hall.
"I thank you and your kin brother. Take that which was yours as part of a deal many years ago." Kíli told him.
Thranduil still thought a trick was about but as he reached out Bofur extended his hands and he was able to take the chest from him. The lid closed and Thranduil held it under one arm against his side.
"Thank you Kíli, King under the Mountain." Thranduil said as he gave a small bow.
"I have a favor to ask before you depart Thranduil." Kíli said as Thranduil stood upright.
'Here it comes.' Thranduil thought.
"Of course Kíli, if it is within my power to grant." Thranduil told him.
"As a gesture of good faith and a sign of permanent peace between our peoples. I wish to marry Tauriel." Kíli told him as he looked up at the beautiful woman beside him.
"Ordinarily I would have to think over such a request." Thranduil said. But he saw no true value in her and it would keep her away from his son. "If this is something Tauriel wishes, then you have my blessing." Thranduil finished.
"I wish it so. With all that is within me." Tauriel declared.
The gathered dwarves seemed to grow a bit disgruntled at this announcement. They had known she was with him all this time but they had thought it was merely as a servant.
"Then our business as business with the elves of Mirkwood are concluded." Kíli said while ignoring his kin. "Bard of Lake-town, please step forward."
As Thranduil stepped back and walked away Bard stood up and stepped over to stand before the throne.
"Bard, in part I believe what Thorin said to you that morning is true." Kíli told him.
Bard frowned as he wondered if Kíli would go back on the deal as well.
"What choice did we have but to barter our birthrights for blankets and food? To ransom our future in exchange for our freedom?" Kíli told him.
Bard felt the sting. He knew it was true, but he knew how his people suffered because they came back. Even with the tyrant gone, their home was destroyed in dragon fire. They had very little, they needed something.
"These were the words of Thorin as I am sure you remember them. But regardless, he still chose to make that bargain. And I am prepared to honor it. But after much council I am also concerned for the future of all the folk of Lake-town." Kíli told him.
"Outside these halls is what remains of Dale. We will bring the citizens of Lake-town into the warmth and safety of these halls while the town of Dale is rebuilt. We dwarves will cut and hewn stone to rebuild the walls and buildings. Your people will help to harvest the wood needed to rebuild. They will grow plants and tend the herds we will purchase to feed us. Then your people can move into the town secure in knowing they once again have a true home. In addition, each will be given one hundred pounds of gold as payment in honor of that deal." Kíli told him.
"Any who don't like this deal will be given two hundred pounds of gold and cast out of these lands never to return. In this way both our peoples receive a fair shake." Kíli finished.
"Your majesty, two hundred pounds is a considerable weight to bear, along with the normal goods someone would have to carry. Especially when the nearest settlement is weeks away under the best circumstances. Not to mention how deadly it would be if it were found out people were carrying that kind of gold on them." Bard questioned.
"These concerns were never discussed in the bargain that was made. It was assumed the people would go back to Lake-town. I'm merely offering a different option to payment. Your Master simply saw to get rid of us, to keep you kenneled in what he saw as his town. I'm offering you a real chance for a real home. A home that is the birthright of those who aided us. You, by your actions, you aided us and so you and your children have a birthright here, forever. The rest of the folk of Lake-town were only moved by the thoughts of greed. And while they suffered in the attack of the dragon, it was a hazard of the bargain they sought with us. If they wish to claim their birthright in Dale, this is the way to do that. By helping us to rebuild and to feed all." Kíli explained.
Bard stared at Kíli for several long minutes. In all their talks before today he had found Kíli kind and a thinker. Though Bard was willing to bet that before Kíli woke up to find the Arkenstone as his he probably never looked beyond the end of his next mug of ale.
"Your majesty, as I am the representative of my people, this is a decision I can't make for all of us. I believe your proposal is both fair and just. May I have some time to speak with my people and see where they stand? I promise not to take too long." Bard asked him.
"Bard, for all you have done, for the good heart that beats within your chest, I grant you time to discuss it with your people. Just be sure to stress to them that this is the only deal. If you come back with a counter, then we will simply expel everyone with the two hundred pounds of gold for each. Then you are free to go live somewhere else in the world." Kíli told him.
Bard nodded as he bowed and then left.
Dáin stood and stepped over without invitation now that the human and most of the elves were gone.
"Are you mad cousin? Wanting to take a she-elf as a mate?" Dáin said in disgust.
"Have a care, cousin. Disrespect my love, Tauriel, and I will have your head." Kíli told him with steel.
Dáin drew back a half step but his eyes probed his cousin.
"You offered the humans two hundred pounds of our gold." Dáin said between clenched teeth.
"Look around you cousin. We could have given the humans two thousand pounds of gold each and every dwarf would still be far richer than any other on this planet. I don't see it as giving it away but as in investing it. Our people once lived quite harmoniously with the humans outside these mountains. We supported and sustained each other. We can do this again. Only a dwarf would want to leave here with two hundred pounds of gold on their back in addition to the normal items needed to survive the tract." Kíli told him.
Dáin slowly considered Kíli's words and finally nodded and took a knee.
Greetings! I hope this finds you well! It has been many years since I read The Hobbit and LoTR. The movies though fresh in my mind and I must admit I dearly loved Kíli and Tauriel, my OTP for the story. So I wanted to write a fix it where Kíli survives and become King under the Mountain. Hope you enjoyed my first story for this fandom, I don't know if I will write another or not, but this one had to be told.
To the Adventure! -Tim