Author's Note: I own nothing.

23 Elf Friend

Tauriel had chased after the dwarves, slipping away from Legolas and whistling to summon her horse. The elves of the woodland realm did not tend to stable their horses which was lucky as it allowed Tauriel to race around the large pack of thirty or more Orcs and beat them to the town of men. She'd hidden herself outside the town, waiting for the dwarves to emerge. She had no idea what she was really doing, she only knew that now that she had found her Soul Singer she could not abandon him now, even if he hated her for being who she was. She didn't think he would, he had been kind and flirtatious while locked away. She frowned as the starlight lit up a small figure leaving the town. She pulled up a brown hood but Tauriel recognized the small figure who had barely escaped with the dwarves. She did not know her but she was with the Dwarves. She would know what had become of Kili. All Tauriel knew was he'd been wounded during their escape.

The figure followed the bridge out of the town and Tauriel slipped off after her. She reached the trees and spoke.

"I know you're here Tauriel." The elven girl blinked, she did not know this creature, but this creature certainly seemed to know her. Taking a chance Tauriel dropped down from her perch in the trees, her bow at the ready.

"I do not know you, how do you know me?" She demanded. The small woman rolled her eyes but quickly recovered.

"My apologies, I know we have never been introduced properly. My name is Belladonna Baggins and I am a Hobbit of the Shire." She sighed. "You did not know I was there but I heard you and Kili speaking during his incarceration. I know he is your One, your Soul Singer." Tauriel's aim wobbled.

"How?"

"Elves are not the only beings who can speak Sindarin, and Silvain." Bella said and Tauriel blinked lowering her weapon.

"You are an Elf Friend." She was amazed. She did not meet many Elf Friends, as since his wifes death Thranduil had grown more and more concerned with keeping any outside force out of his halls.

"At least a friend of the elves of Rivendell. I do not think I earned many friends in stealing the company away from your king." Bella said blushing slightly. She shook her head. "That is not why I came here. Kili is dying." Tauriel dropped her bow. "Oin called it a Morgul wound but I don't know what that means." Tauriel moved fast snatching up her bow and letting out a sharp whistle. Her horse galloped out of the trees. She bodily picked Bella up and leaped onto the horse, setting Bella in front of her.

"Where do we go Miss Baggins?" Tauriel asked and Bella nodded giving direction to the house where the dwarves were staying. The horse took off at a gallop and Bella shrieked, she'd never been on a full sized horse before. It didn't take them more than ten minutes to get to the house. Tauriel swung the pair of them off the horse and Bella shook her head looking ruffled. She blew wind swept hair out of her face before racing up the stairs of the house, Tauriel hot on her heels. They burst into the sickroom and Tauriel raced to Kili's side taking in the injury in a moment.

"We need Kingsfoil, I can drive out the shadow that seeks to claim him." Bofur ran from the room. Thorin glared at Tauriel, Bella stepped in front of him.

"She can save him, we can't. Let her help." Bella's tone brooked no argument.

"What did she make you promise for this Ghivashel?" He demanded. Bella shook her head.

"I promised nothing." Bofur came running back into the room. Apparently while Bella had been gone Alfrid had taken Bella's orders to heart for Bofur was carrying a basket full of herbs. Tauriel took the basket and practically tore the kingsfoil from it. Bella shook her head.

"Out!" She began to shove Dwarves out of the room. She left Fili and Oin to watch over Kili, there would be no detaching the brothers now. Thorin was the hardest to get out of the room. "You can do him no good here and now. He is in good hands." She assured as she gently coaxed him out of the room.

"How do you know? You do not know this elf maid." Thorin began. Bella laid a hand over his mouth and he blinked at her, confused as though no one had ever done that to him before.

"I will have you know I am an excellent judge of character. She is doing this for the right reasons Thorin. I would not have revealed where we are to her if I did not believe she meant no harm. She may not know me but I know her well enough from my week wandering Thranduil's halls." At that he allowed himself to be led from the room, and even allowed for the door to be closed behind him. He pulled Bella close burying his head in her hair and simply stood there for a moment breathing in the smell of her.

"I cannot lose them." He muttered, and Bella could hear the suppressed tears in his voice.

"Nor will you if I have any say in it." She said and Thorin let out a wet laugh.

"You have proved yourself a protector of the line of Durin many times Ghivashel. You will make a superb queen." He muttered that last sentiment in Khuzdul, into her hair. It was the first time he'd allowed himself to think of what would happen when they took back Erebor. That was something new to him too, the concept of when replacing the ever-present if that he'd had dogging his steps since announcing his intentions to his sister what felt like years ago.