Hello!

Thank you all for reading and for the reviews! And to those who I cannot answer to (guests) thank you so much as well :) Plot bunnies are playing around in my head so lets see where they lead me

It was the second time of that peculiar day that Tauriel awoke without knowing how long she had been away. Her eyes opened slowly and blinked uneasily as she accustomed to the light that surrounded her.

Warmth touched her skin, soothing her goosebumps. Her hands gathered the warm sheet beneath her and soon discovered that she was laying in a large bed. Judging from the architecture of the room she was in Erebor.

"Tauriel"

Her head whipped to the side where someone had called her. A hushed whisper. A familiar face came into focus among others who looked at her with hints of concern.

"Are you alright?"

She saw the hobbit reach to her and touched her cheek with a hesitant caress. She immediately moved away from his touch which made his features freeze.

"Forgive me" he quickly said as he swallowed and nervously rose from his chair and scooted away.

"No. Forgive me" she whispered her throat feeling dry as summer. She looked around the cozy chamber.

"You fainted Tauriel" the wizard was in turn to say. Her brows furrowed at his statement. She had never fainted without a crucial reason.

"How long have I been unconscious?" she asked looking at Gandalf.

"One hour I believe" he answered with a small forced smile. One hour that she had been asleep without her consent. She was far weaker than she had ever thought to believe. That was strange but she kept the thought away for now.

And then her mind rewinded. What Bard had told her came flying to her in a surprise attack. She rose from the bed so quickly that her head spinned.

"Kili" she gasped as the wizard and one of the dwarves supported her gently pushing her back on the bed.

"Where is he?" she asked her voice loud and demanding rising against the hands that pushed her back. Tears streaked down her cheeks without her permission. Speaking his name brought upon her great turmoil.

Bilbo came towards her as she was settled on the bed.

"Take a deep breath" he suggested as she obliged. "Let us explain"

Gandalf cleared his throat as he sat at the foot of the bed and turned to Tauriel. Her eyes were frantic as she took deep breaths.

"There is hope that life can be restored within them" he began looking down at Tauriel's shaking hands. Some more tears fell silently down her cheeks as she tried to focus on the wizard's words.

"We are hopeful" Bilbo added but hesitation filled his eyes which Tauriel clearly saw. "But.. we must be ready to receive an unfavorable answer"

"What do you mean?" Tauriel asked as she frantically looked at Gandalf and Bilbo.

"They are in there right now, inspecting if it can be done" Gandalf said. "Lady Galadriel will do anything in her power"

Tauriel swallowed heavily and felt her chest grow hotter and hotter.

"They have suffered great wounds" Bilbo then began waiting for Tauriel to absorb the information given to her.

"They will suffer" she then whispered her eyes becoming clouded.

"She has assured me they will not" Gandalf quickly said as Tauriel threw her feet over the edge of the bed.

"Will you not bring more pain?" she then asked as she rose and everyone could sense anger surrounding her.

"Is this not your hope?" Bilbo asked with confused eyes. "To see them alive once again?"

She shook her head. "They will be in pain. You do not understand what she will do"

Bilbo looked at Gandalf as the wizard sighed and closed his eyes.

"She will ignite the spark of life but they will be left with the chance of claiming it. Their wounds will not be able to heal nor be tended to until after they choose to open their eyes"

Bilbo shook his head. "If there is a way. We must at least try!"

"I don't want him to be in pain" she whispered feeling defeated as she looked around the room. It had seemed as if everyone had made a decision.

"Tauriel" the dwarf with the silly hat came forward. "They are strong. They will fight darkness and death and return to us"

Tauriel's eyes glowed like fire. That word yet again: Return.

"Foolish promise" she whispered running her hands through her hair.

"He is correct. We will try" Gandalf then said as his hand rested on her shoulder. "They would have wanted this chance"

"I want to see him" she then whispered. It was evident that a decision had been made and perhaps she wanted to believe in hope. It had deserted her. But now, something within her wanted to welcome in hope with so much desperation that it rivaled her need to see him.

"We are not allowed to go in the chamber until she is finished" Bilbo then said. "And even after that…"

"Let them rest in peace" she then whispered, interrupting the hobbit, her eyes pleading as she looked at him. "The pain will be excruciating"

"The decision has been made" Gandalf then said his eyes warm and almost apologetic. "Erebor needs a king and princes"

"I advise that you rest some more" Bofur proposed pointing at the bed.

Gandalf gave her a nod as she took a deep breath. "We will inform you when she will begin the process"

Tauriel's jaw hardened as she made her way towards the bed. She did not say a word as everyone started to vacate the chamber. Another dwarf who she did not remember the name of waved at her. He was one of the younger ones she was sure.

She turned around towards the door as Gandalf was about to close it.

"You do not tamper with death" Tauriel announced.

Gandalf looked at her. The fiery elf in front of her had so much strength inside of her that he wondered where she had suddenly obtained it from. She looked different. Something about her was changed. And something told him that it was not grief that had changed her so completely. He brushed the thought away as he faced the elf.

"If I recall correctly you tampered with death when you saved Kili at Laketown"

She looked away and did not answer. The doors closed gently and she was now alone. The fire roaring at the hearth was the only sound keeping her company.

"What is happening?" she asked as she closed her eyes and massaged her temples. There was so much information to swallow. There was a powerful elf under the mountain who could return life. Kili could could come back. He could keep his promise. Could it be possible?

She groaned and allowed herself to fall back to the pillows as she clutched at her chest. Something had been torn open once again and she hated the pain that lurked within her now stronger than ever. If she regained hope she was sure it would kill her. She lost him once, could she bare losing him once again?

She reached for the runestone and bead she kept safely tucked inside her corset. Her thumb grazed the carved runes on the stone as she stared at the fire roaring in the fireplace. Red flames licked the stone walls surrounding the hearth. Its warmth reaching her and strangely offering calming caresses.

"You're dead" she whispered closing her eyes yearning to remember the feeling of his hands on her skin. "Why are they telling me you could come back?"

Her tired eyes opened as they filled with tears. She brushed them away before they fell and a resilient look casted upon her eyes.

"He deserves to live Tauriel" she then said oddly speaking to herself. Her voice was hoarse but loud. It did not matter that she could die if she lost him once again, what mattered above all, is that he would have the chance to live. He was strong, along with his kin, and they could fight the darkness that had swallowed them. Lady Galadriel could help them return. She rose from the bed, fighting her weakened state. Her body groaned in distaste for movement but she needed to speak to the lady of light. Someone whom Tauriel had heard many tales of but never had the privilege to look upon. With the stone and bead in her hand she made her way to the door. Her hand grasped the wooden handle and pushed it down but as she did nothing occurred. It was locked.

Tauriel froze as she tried the handle once again but the door did not budge an inch.

"What in Valar name is going on?" she hissed as she returned the stone and bead to her corset and with both hands tried to open the door to no victory.

A sense of imprisonment came upon her and her panic rose to dangerous heights. She detested the feeling of being confined.

"Open this door at once!" she screamed as she banged both hands on the door. The wood rattled lightly but the thick slab would never be brought down even by her.

Her eyes glazed with fire as she reached for her dagger and tried to manipulate the lockset.

She cursed in her language many times over as she slammed the door with her fist.

"Tauriel"

She heard someone called and her anger rose. Her fist did not stop the banging.

"Let me out this instance!" her voice was loud and it wore a frightening tone. She heard hushed whispers on the other side but no one came close to the door.

"We cannot let you out" Bilbo said. He was apologetic and trying to be kind with his words.

"Why not?" Tauriel asked, her voice still sharp as daggers.

"You cannot see him. Not yet" it was another voice. And it took her a moment to realize it was Balin, one of the older dwarves.

Tauriel's chest heaved.

"And why is that?" she asked staring at the door as she would be starring at those on the other side.

"He has to fight for his own will. She has said that having you there will not be wise. One look at him and she knew about you. Lady Galadriel knows of the bond that existed between the two of you"

Tauriel closed her eyes as she began to understand.

"I only wish to see him for a few seconds" she announced softly her anger retreating. Her hand laid flat against the door as she pressed her forehead to the wood.

She could hear the answer to her request before Balin spoke.

"Not yet dear"

She swallowed heavily.

"We will bring you food and water" Bilbo proposed his voice closer than before.

"Let me out. I can keep away. Trust me"

She tried to sound convincing but even to her own ears she had failed.

"We will be back with food and perhaps request a set of clothing from your kin?" Balin asked.

Tauriel sighed. "I'm sure Thranduil would not mind to hear that I'm being kept locked in a room of stone"

She heard her companions share whispers.

"What you can do now is eat and rest lass" Balin then said and they both turned to walk again. Tauriel heard the shuffle of their feet.

"Elves do not do well locked away and worse… I'm locked away under a mountain of stone"

"At least for today" Bilbo said his voice kind and hopeful.

She did not answer as she walked back to the bed that suddenly felt uncomfortable as she knew she was forced to stay there.

No voices were heard outside the door. No noises but her own breathing and the fire crackling the wood at the hearth.

She wanted to sleep so the confusion would drift away. She desired the type of sleep that carried one off to the sky and kept them there until the end of time.

*flashback*

Tauriel was the first to wake. Her back was aligned to his chest and their legs intertwined. Stirring in his arms, she wanted to become closer to him even though they were already pressed to each other.

"It's morning" Kili whispered. His voice was heavy and sleepy. It brought a smile to her face.

She then sighed as he pressed kisses to the back of her neck. Little sparks were sent down her entire body at the feeling of his beard scraping her skin.

"Indeed it is morning" she answered contently. Her eyes closed and tried to ignore the fact that they would soon need to depart.

"Let's stay here for a bit longer" he proposed. "My kin won't wake up this early. It isn't healthy for us to be up and about right now"

She chuckled out loud, her hand reaching up to cover her mouth.

"Then we shall stay longer, for your well being"

He smiled against her skin. "Thank you my love"

She shivered at his words and she gathered his hands in hers.

"Last night was wonderful" she whispered blinking her eyes as they still did not accustom to the lingering darkness of the cold early morning. She would remember such morning for her entire existence. And their shared night would forever hold something special in her memory.

"It was indeed wonderful" he agreed his hand outlining her hip bones and traveling down her belly button. She sucked in some air as his finger was so close to where she yearned to be touched, only for him to stop. He loved to tease. It fit his personality so well, she almost expected it.

"You woke me up twice because you couldn't get enough of me" he then said with a prideful tone that made her cheeks blaze with fire. She bit her lip as she felt his need begin to grow and hers to intensify.

"It is not my fault that you are quite an exquisite lover master dwarf" she murmured turning around in his arms to face him. He immediately captured her lips with his own.

"You want to again?" he asked against her lower lip which he playfully bit. She pressed her hips to his and wrapped a leg around him.

"Surprise me again" she whispered and her breath stopped as his fingers teased her becoming wet from her desire. Her desire was indeed fully noted.

He wasted no time and in one smooth motion he entered her, capturing her. Her toes curled at the sensation that never grew old. He filled her wonderfully and hit just the right angles.

"Mmhhh" he whispered as they built their speed. He noted her walls tightening around him and in that second he stopped. She whined out loud as he exited her and gave her a wink.

He swiftly gathered her in his arms and rose to his feet with her in tow.

"Why did you do that?" she asked her voice panting. She looked so beautiful with her hair stuck to her sweat- slicked skin.

A smile slowly spread over his lips as he pressed her against the wall.

"The floor is getting old" he breathed as he entered her again. Her lean and long legs were around him in a second as he began thrusting upwards into her. He thrusted, swiveled and kissed her lips. Right in that order.

"Yes" she moaned her breath faltering under her. Her fingers dove in his hair, sneaking around hidden braids. Her thumb touched one of his metal beads and caressed the carvings.

Her thoughts changed as she began to feel everything cave once again. His lips scorched her skin at her neck while the back of her hands slammed backwards against the wall.

"Oh gods" she hissed closing her eyes as he began to increase the speed in response to her moans. He cursed and hissed against her skin as he was so close to be driven to the edge. His hand that was at her neck slid down between their sweat slickened bodies and his fingernails raked her skin, the sensation making her toes curl and a small smile appear at her lips. She looked down as his fingers caressed and pressed her gently. Tauriel moaned in response as she threw her head back softly hitting the stone wall.

Tauriel then saw him become undone through her hooded eyes. His fist slammed the wall next to her head. His eyes closed and his teeth captured his bottom lip with a hard bite. His breath hit her cheek and she felt the rush of the warm liquid inside of her. Watching him fall into bliss was all she needed and she too shook in his hold.

"Glorious" he breathed capturing her earlobe with his mouth.

"Dwarven stamina surprises me" she then said her voice raspy as the last waves of the amazing sensations abandoned her.

He grabbed her arms, sliding his hands up to hers and lined them up to the wall above her head.

He gave her a blinding smile. "You drive me insane"

Tauriel chuckled a breathy laugh. His hands then grabbed her breasts.

"You are exquisite my darling"

She pressed her forehead to his and tapped his nose with hers.

"And you have been crafted by the gods themselves" she murmured. Her hands traveled down the toned lines of his torso and licked her lips.

"Is that so?" he asked loving the way her hands explored his body.

She vigorously nodded as she caressed his chest loving the way the coarse hair felt beneath her hands. They slid down to his abdomen and followed the wonderful trail of hair that traveled south to the part of his body that made her scream his name. He was the epitome of manliness and she felt like a young lass who fanned herself every time her eyes laid upon him.

"I don't want to leave you" he then whispered. His eyes changed as her rose to look upon them. They became warm and loving and not desire driven as moments before. She lowered her legs to the floor, unwinding from his hips and pressed him in a tight embrace.

Her feet touched the floor for only a few seconds before he scooped her up once again and laid her at the floor. He joined her there, and she scooted close and laid her head at his chest. His arm was under her head while the other wrapped around her.

"I want this moment to freeze" she said closing her eyes loving the feel of his warm skin pressing against hers. "To not move forward so we could stay here"

And to her astonishment tears came to her eyes. He immediately felt one hit his skin and his hand reached to lift her chin so he could look at her. She did not know where the tears came from nor she wanted to cry but it all just happened.

Kili's heart broke at such a sight as she cried and her arms reached for him and wrapped around his neck.

"Darlin' what's wrong?" he whispered his own voice cracking. She looked so small and fragile as he cuddled her tightly.

"I'm sorry" she gasped as the tears came, one after the other.

He shook his head, his fingers brushing her tears away.

"Do not apologize my love" he softly ordered. His arms around her felt so protective and she loved to dwell in that for a few minutes. She needed to feel someone else protect her as always being the strong one was sometimes tiring.

He kissed her lovely face many times and whispered strings of lovely words. He then reached for his clothes and searched for the stone.

"Hey" he then said trying to get her attention as currently she hid her face at the crook of his neck.

She rose and met his warm eyes which warmed her up instantly.

Kili pressed the stone into her hand.

"That promise still stands" he then said his eyes serious. "Whenever I leave you for any reason know that I will always make my way back to you. I would fight every orc just to get to you Amralime"

She smiled and more tears slid down her cheeks.

"I will always return to you. I love you Tauriel. You are the owner of my heart"

Tauriel beamed at such lovely words. Her lips captured his in a soft meeting.

"Alright?" he asked and she nodded.

"Owner of your heart" she repeated with a toothy grin. "And your body?"

He chuckled and nodded as his fingertips slid down her nose and lips, caressing her before diving in and kissing the breath away from her.

"You are mine" she then said breathing in harshly, pressing both her hands at the sides of his face.

"And you are mine" he then said his possessive tone returning. "That elven Prince does anything and my fist will make contact with his face"

She gasped and she shook her head. A laugh escaped her.

"Please do not hit Legolas"

Kili narrowed his eyes and wrapped his arms tightly around her.

"Defending him I see" he playfully growled and pressed hot kisses to her neck. Her laugh was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Such a lovely sound to match a lovely individual.

"You are jealous" she then noted. He rolled his eyes.

"My dear Tauriel. If you saw another woman look at me the way Legolas looks at you. I assure you that you would get jealous as well"

Her eyes blinked rapidly at the realization that he was correct. Heat rose in her and pounded her heart. The thought of someone else touching him the way she touched him. Someone else in his arms, someone else seeing him naked, and above else… someone else claiming his affection, was a frightening thought.

"They won't dare" she hissed wrapping her leg around him in a manner that one plants a flag in their claimed territory. His hand slid up her leg enjoying the smoothness of her skin.

"You want this wonderful arse just for yourself then?" he asked wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. She playfully hit his shoulder with a smile and nodded with warning.

"It better only be mine Kili. I mean it"

He came closer to her and kissed her nose in such a lovely manner that her eyes closed on their own accord. "Yes ma'am. Kili, Prince of Erebor, at your service"

Well. He did offer his services alright. It must be said, that morning was not particularly quiet.

They finally parted a few hours later. They both stood there, outside, feet on the snow and staring at each other. In that moment Kili wanted time to stop so he could stare into Tauriel's green eyes for ever. Those eyes that had captured him that were now wet with tears that threatened to fall.

How could he let her go? He was scared that he would never see her again.

"We'll meet again" she whispered nodding her head and sniffing away her tears. Kili gave her a small smile that did not lack doubt, and reached to brush some strands of her hair away from her lips and captured them in a swift and soft kiss. His arms tightened around her, then pressed another kiss at her forehead as she tried to control her loud breathing. She did not want to let go of him.

"Yes" was all he said before stepping away. She swallowed and bit her lip to keep herself from going to him once again. The stone in her hand felt as heavy it had been back at Laketown where he had first given it to her. And once again she stood there, looking at him with all the hope she could own. The mountain stood tall behind him. The mountain that belonged to him. Sometimes she forgot he was a prince.

"Keep the stone. Keep it safe" he said in a smile that tried to warm her up.

"You're going to show me the caverns" she reminded taking a step towards him. He chuckled. Of course she had remembered.

"I will take you anywhere" he added his voice soft and full with promises.

"Don't be too reckless. Be careful" she then whispered. He gave her a nod and a wink.

"You too gorgeous"

Her lips spread slowly in a blushing smile. "This is the part where we walk away"

He raised his brows and turned his feet. "You're right. Yes"

They both turned around obviously not wanting to walk away. But they both took small steps in opposition directions.

"I love you" she then said loud enough for him to hear. The words felt foreign to her tongue but they also felt sweet as if the words I love you had their own distinctive taste. And saying them to the dwarf in front of her felt right. She was a fool for falling for that smiling idiot but she could not help herself. And if love made her a fool, then so be it.

Kili stopped in his tracks at the sincerity of her tone as she declared her love. He looked over his shoulder and sent her a smile brighter than the sun itself.

"I love you too" he whispered and he knew she heard it because he heard her giggle and it was her small laugh that gave him the courage to keep on walking away.

Notes- Thank you for reading :)